as in wise
formal
having or showing an ability to notice and understand things that are difficult or not obvious
She considers herself a perspicacious judge of character. The critic made some perspicacious observations about the film.
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Recent Examples of perspicacious
If a new Bridgerton-sibling romance each season is the series’ gimmick, then Penelope has proven to be its soul—a vividly realistic protagonist whose perspicacious alter ego tethered each fairytale courtship to earth.
—
Judy Berman, TIME, 14 June 2024
One of the few perspicacious journalists of the Trump era, Graeme Wood, put it pithily: The Deep State is in the White House, and Trump appointed it.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 13 Dec. 2023
With the help of friends in the publishing world, Jaffrey’s draft landed in the hands of the perspicacious Knopf editor Judith Jones in 1971.
—Mayukh Sen, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Photographs show Pym looking jolly and perspicacious, with charmingly crooked English teeth.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022
This particular Ferrari F50 was delivered new, in 1996, to Étienne Léandri, a defense lawyer and perspicacious Ferrari collector from Monaco.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2022
Forty-five years have passed since the late Professor Price coined his perspicacious term.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2010
Judy Berman, TIME, 14 June 2024
One of the few perspicacious journalists of the Trump era, Graeme Wood, put it pithily: The Deep State is in the White House, and Trump appointed it.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 13 Dec. 2023
With the help of friends in the publishing world, Jaffrey’s draft landed in the hands of the perspicacious Knopf editor Judith Jones in 1971.
—Mayukh Sen, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Photographs show Pym looking jolly and perspicacious, with charmingly crooked English teeth.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022
This particular Ferrari F50 was delivered new, in 1996, to Étienne Léandri, a defense lawyer and perspicacious Ferrari collector from Monaco.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2022
Forty-five years have passed since the late Professor Price coined his perspicacious term.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perspicacious
Adjective
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With them, outrage becomes fuel for sustained, wise action.—
Marc Brackett,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
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Hubert will play a wise woman who meets Hilary (Coco Jones) and becomes instrumental to the Banks family.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On September 21, 1991, Wright scored a typically brilliant goal in Palace’s 3-2 win at Oldham Athletic, having sprinted from inside his own half.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
However, Route 100 shines particularly brightest (both literally and figuratively) in the fall, when the trees lining the road light up with brilliant fall colors.—
Megan Margulies,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As in years past, there was plenty of heated debate, some clever campaigning on social media, a last-minute push for votes from A-list significant others and a few races that were neck-and-neck right up until the last ballot was cast.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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From clever packing solutions and cozy in-flight accessories, to tiny upgrades that make a huge difference midair, all of these travel hacks are pilot-approved for keeping your journey calm, clean, and surprisingly comfortable from takeoff to touchdown.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Conspiracy theorists claim intelligent aliens might be observing humanity’s weapons capabilities.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Oct. 2025
-
With the excitement and delusion of Humbert Humbert imposing a purple-prose narrative on his pedophilic assumptions, Hank speaks of his former student like a James Dean figure — beautiful, brooding and quietly intelligent.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For me, it’s been really essential to read a lot of great information, and to come at the world filled with knowledge and all these ideas of, in my view, much smarter and braver people than myself.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Those rats were smarter, and their brains were larger and more complex than the brains of the rats in the isolated condition.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Although nothing is imminent, club sources say the hierarchy are keen to find a successor and have held talks with a number of candidates.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Shouse says that touring with Frehley was a chance to see the guitarist’s keen sense of humor up close.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The lounge feels like a five-star hotel with fine dining (don’t miss the schnitzel), an exceptional whiskey bar, and plush daybeds and showers.—
Staff Author,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
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Native throughout eastern North America, arrowwood viburnum provides exceptional wildlife value through nectar-rich spring blooms and late season blue-black fruits.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Senne Lammens continuing his composed start to his United career could at least counteract those types of chances for Brighton, while Amorim’s defenders will need to be astute to the movement of Hurzeler’s front-line.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The odd, sometimes astute connections and ideas her seemingly new brain forms are not entirely unpleasant.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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