incisive

adjective

Definition of incisivenext
as in acidic
very clear and direct She provided an incisive analysis that changed my entire opinion on the issue.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of incisive Marjane was known for her wariness of interviews, and her ability to disarm with sharp wit and bittersweet humor could turn incisive. — Literary Hub, 18 June 2026 Beyond classic sea vistas, Conecta Magaluf-Mallorca’s conference strand also allowed delegates a rapid, often incisive catch-up on the state of the international TV business, as well as how cutting edge tourist concerns have become a new driver for part of the film-TV industry. — John Hopewell, Variety, 1 June 2026 As embodied by John Lithgow, Dahl is incisive, avuncular, irascible, acerbic, and always entertaining. — Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 31 May 2026 The same goes for Einbinder, who, like Ava, has established herself as a politically outspoken, incisive comedic voice. — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for incisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incisive
  1. acidic
  2. acid
  3. ironic
  4. concise
  5. trenchant
  6. poignant
  7. acerbic
  8. sardonic
Adjective
  • The Venus flytrap is native only to the coastal wetlands and bogs of North Carolina and South Carolina, and grows naturally in nutrient-poor, acidic, and perpetually wet areas.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026
  • Earlier studies also showed that slightly acidic seawater from the BPMED process can accelerate algae growth, and allow future systems to simultaneously recover minerals while producing chemicals, fuels, fertilizers, and biomass.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with an acid attack on six women in Jersey City, New Jersey, last month, public safety officials said.
    — Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 15 July 2026
  • Over several decades, hundreds and hundreds of tons — hundreds of thousands of gallons — of acid waste from the pesticide DDT and even DDT itself were dumped into the ocean off the Palos Verdes Peninsula and near Catalina Island.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of acid
Adjective
  • Such are the perils of popularity, all the more ironic because Oliver never intended to be a populist.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 3 July 2026
  • In person, Huang subdues his ironic braggadocio with polite eye contact and rolling belly laughs at his own jokes.
    — Mariella Rudi, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of ironic
Adjective
  • Trust her to direct you to the right bottle on her concise, personal list, or to pour you a glass of something exciting from a nightly-changing selection.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Donna Kelce, mother of Travis and Jason, gave a concise reaction to the wedding while speaking with Macy's at the company's Fourth of July event in New York.
    — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of concise
Adjective
  • More so than its source material, the new series is a monster mystery mixed with a trenchant social thriller.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • If philosophy begins in wonder, trenchant social drama seems to start in laughter.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of trenchant
Adjective
  • And in the film’s poignant final scene, Joe despondently plays his piano − only for Angela to sit beside him and start plunking along.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Sidny Lopes Cabral’s delightful curling strike was one of the great World Cup moments and the image of him in the crowd right after was poignant.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of poignant
Adjective
  • At the level of style, there was nothing obviously flamboyant about Allen’s music, nor her presence on stage, the quiet, acerbic composure of her delivery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • An unswervingly loyal oncologist, Wilson was the acerbic doctor's only true friend.
    — Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 July 2026
Definition of acerbic
Adjective
  • Cavill, absent from the proceedings for long stretches, remains a sturdy presence as the most buff screen Sherlock ever, while Helena Bonham Carter is again reliably amusing as Enola and Sherlock’s sardonic mother Eudoria.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
  • And Milly’s being this sort of seething, disconnected, sardonic character who is more of an observer.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 18 June 2026
Definition of sardonic

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Cite this Entry

“Incisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incisive. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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