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
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Recent Examples of incisive
Meanwhile, Wakim’s moment in the spotlight proved why the featured player is worth keeping around, as his humor was not only biting, but incisive in a way that hearkened back to Update anchor Norm MacDonald.
—
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025
Few attacking midfielders have his blend of ball-carrying drive, incisive passing and spatial awareness.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 May 2025
In an incisive observation of the way that an adult’s words can sometimes settle on a child with unusual weight, I-Jing absorbs this folk superstition without question, and begins to shoplift gaudy trinkets from surrounding market stalls, only ever using her evil left hand.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2025
What results is a series of stunning essays that are personal, incisive cultural criticism, very funny and deeply sad.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incisive
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025
Few attacking midfielders have his blend of ball-carrying drive, incisive passing and spatial awareness.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 May 2025
In an incisive observation of the way that an adult’s words can sometimes settle on a child with unusual weight, I-Jing absorbs this folk superstition without question, and begins to shoplift gaudy trinkets from surrounding market stalls, only ever using her evil left hand.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2025
What results is a series of stunning essays that are personal, incisive cultural criticism, very funny and deeply sad.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incisive
Adjective
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The way the soil responds will give you an idea of whether your soil is acidic, alkaline, or neutral.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 May 2025
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The acidic soil at Sutton Hoo, which rotted away the wood of the Anglo-Saxon ship and only left impressions of planks and rows of iron rivets, means that many of the bone combs previously found at Sutton Hoo have not been well-preserved, Howarth said.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Azaleas do like an acid soil and grow best when the soil acidity is in the pH range of 4.5 to 5.5.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2025
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Fluoride also replaces minerals lost from teeth due to acid breakdown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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And if later Destinations would perfect the whole falling-dominos-of-death thing, did any of them pull off a more iconic, ironic jolt than poor Terry fatally failing to look both ways?—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
19 May 2025
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That such a straightforwardly earnest candidate would emerge as a favorite of the downtown world may seem unlikely: This set has been characterized as everything from reactionary to right-wing, and above all, governed by a certain ironic sensibility.—
Joseph Bernstein,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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In a concise 30-to-45-minute session, volunteers learn to recognize warning signs, ask direct questions, validate the veterans' experience, and expedite referral to services—summarized by the acronym SAVE.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2025
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Scheduling a concise daily standup meeting can keep alignment tight.—
Max Avery,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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There’s a buddy comedy element to Godard’s at times tempestuous relationship with his producer that makes for some of this film’s most trenchant inquiries into the filmmaking mindset.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 May 2025
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Reassembling the excellent cast from the low-profile 2023 premiere in Los Angeles, Mamet reels us in with some of his most trenchant writing in years.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Hired as a live-in caretaker in the opulent home, Ana Maria (Jenny Navarrete), a pregnant Colombian immigrant in Panama City hiding a major secret, develops a genuine bond with the initially standoffish Mechi, making for an unassumingly poignant and superbly acted two-hander.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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Attendees can learn more about the late first lady’s passion work as an advocate for the environment and her passion for wildflowers during this poignant, humorous portrayal by Goddard, an actress and historian.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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Gary Oldman plays the acerbic Jackson Lamb, the odoriferous chief of Slough House where MI5 agents who just can’t cut it – or who are being punished for one reason or another – are sent.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
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Even the most vegan among us can’t resist a bleeding slice of Broadway beef: Andrew Lloyd Webber, President Trump, and Madonna have all been targets of her acerbic commentary.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Fey’s writing usually has a reputation of being more on the biting or sardonic side, but The Four Seasons trades out the eye rolls for loving looks (mostly).—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 May 2025
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Alan Tudyk joins the cast as K-2SO, Andor's sardonic droid companion from Rogue One.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Incisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incisive. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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