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
As played by the perspicacious young performer Aoife Riddell, Phoebe is perhaps the realest part of the whole picture, a sweet and desperate and boy-crazy kid bouncing with eagerness and nerves.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
As played by the perspicacious young performer Aoife Riddell, Phoebe is perhaps the realest part of the whole picture, a sweet and desperate and boy-crazy kid bouncing with eagerness and nerves.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
-
This show has been so amazing for us, not just friendship-wise and getting so close to each other, but also being a part of something that people love.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The sad thing is the Dolphins, in a wise effort to build the trenches during the past two years, have used lots of draft capital (left tackle Patrick Paul was a 2024 second-round pick and left guard Jonah Savaiinaea was a 2025 second-round pick) in that area.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Goldsberry will play Renee, a brilliant opposing attorney who has a professional and romantic history with Michael, and Stiller as Christy, a young assistant at the new start-up law firm in Cupertino that’s at the heart of the story.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Wrestling with heartbreak and critics who didn’t understand him, and trying to find his place in a post-Sixties Watergate America, culminated in eight brilliant songs that hardcore Young fans love to endlessly talk about — more than Young sure ever did.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Russia has been overtly aggressive while China is more clever and subtle, using tactics such as intellectual property theft and economic penetration of less developed countries.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
From storage helpers to laundry and cleaning aids, try one of these clever uses for old pillowcases.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Its intelligent brake and reverse (iBR) system adds specific control when slowing down or maneuvering around objects or when docking, along with different ride modes that let the rider chill (or sharpen) the throttle response depending on conditions.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Feb. 2026
-
On Friday, the company plans to shutter its GPT-4o model — widely considered the most emotionally intelligent on the market, and often used for individuals’ companions.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And my initial job and focus was working for the chief digital officer at the time who was a really smart guy.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The long-standing challenge of smart fibers For years, researchers have tried to make smart fibers—materials that change shape when exposed to electricity, light, heat, or changes in acidity.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But few, apart from salivating tech company executives, are particularly keen on the idea.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Fortunately, no shots were fired, nothing escalated, and the 20-year-old man was disarmed thanks to the keen eye of an off-duty Sacramento detective.—
Tori Apodaca,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The event will focus on wisdom and wellness, featuring engaging speakers, meaningful conversations, and breathtaking coastal views paired with exceptional cuisine, according to a news release.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Sponsored by the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the award honors exceptional work and encompasses fiction, travel writing, memoir and diary.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In a ruse that, for lack of a more astute reference point here, feels very Don Draper-coded, Rose poses as the dear male soldier who died next to her in battle, figuring why waste the deeds to perfectly decent land, or his name.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
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All this is strange and disappointing, because Holmes is a gifted biographer, not to mention a fluent translator of science and an astute reader of poetry.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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