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
-
Even though the Fever could get into the playoffs, bringing Clark back might not be a wise decision.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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However, nutrition-wise, corn tortillas typically offer more advantages thanks to fewer calories, less sodium, and a higher fiber content.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Herbert’s brilliant response How would Herbert respond to the playoff loss to the Houston Texans last season, in one of the worst games of his career?—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The leaves turn a vivid, brilliant scarlet-red in the fall.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
This can be read as a clever knock on some of the mockumentary-format comedies that followed The Office, often — ahem, Modern Family — failing to provide any actual reason for the doc-style shooting and talking-head interviews.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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But poems are cleverer than the people who write them.—
Leila Chatti
September 5,
Literary Hub,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Together, these agents represent an intelligent, adaptive defense system comparable to the collaboration of a human security operations center, but with the speed and scale of machines.—
Perry Carpenter,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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And his evocation of the specific political environment of pre-war Algeria is an intelligent contemporary expansion on the novel.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And that's not even counting any of the wholly original new shows this fall that are smart, gripping and exciting.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Elena Linari is a smart defensive signing, too.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Shi seemed confident that Strand Larsen, who was keen to join Newcastle United before the deadline, will knuckle down despite Wolves rejecting two bids.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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This is not the 21st-century China that the state is keen to project in films that play abroad — and these characters are not model 21st-century Chinese, either.—
Adam Solomons,
IndieWire,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Angela Grothaus and Lisa Human have been promoted to partners, recognizing their exceptional leadership and dedication to client service, the release said.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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The ceremony will also recognize Brunello Cucinelli, who will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award for exceptional contributions and lasting impact on the fashion industry.—
Essence,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Whereas the former revealed the many ways in which the responsibility for keeping families and communities together falls on women (an observation that informs the new series as well), Ingelsby’s latest makes an astute study of guilt, revenge, and forgiveness.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
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Dan had done the right thing, but not the strategic or politically astute thing.—
Carol Geffner,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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