Definition of trenchant
trenchantly
adverbExplore M-W
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Examples of trenchant in a Sentence
a writer with a trenchant wit
even the most trenchant sword could not sever the bonds of loyalty between them
Recent Examples of trenchant from the Web
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Google has taken much heat for its blunder, with the most trenchant criticism coming from a blog post from EFF lawyer Jennifer Granick, who wrote: Google is too mature to be making these kinds of rookie privacy mistakes.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trenchant'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
The word trenchant comes from the Anglo-French verb trencher, meaning "to cut," and may ultimately derive from the Vulgar Latin trinicare, meaning "to cut in three." Hence, a trenchant sword is one with a keen edge; a trenchant remark is one that cuts deep; and a trenchant observation is one that cuts to the heart of the matter. Relatives of trenchant in English include the noun trench ("a long ditch cut into the ground") and the verb retrench ("to cut down or pare away" or "to cut down expenses").
Origin and Etymology of trenchant
Middle English trenchaunt, from Anglo-French, present participle of trencher
First Known Use: 14th century
TRENCHANT Defined for English Language Learners
trenchant
playDefinition of trenchant for English Language Learners
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: very strong, clear, and effective
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See words that rhyme with trenchant Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for trenchant Spanish Central: Translation of trenchant Nglish: Translation of trenchant for Spanish speakers
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