perspicacious

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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective perspicacious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of perspicacious are astute, sagacious, and shrewd. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.

a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

When is astute a more appropriate choice than perspicacious?

Although the words astute and perspicacious have much in common, astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

In what contexts can sagacious take the place of perspicacious?

The synonyms sagacious and perspicacious are sometimes interchangeable, but sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

When could shrewd be used to replace perspicacious?

While in some cases nearly identical to perspicacious, shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

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 perspicacious The 'perspicacious' Marvin Harrison Jr., and what that means for the Cardinals Like the former Ohio State star, Devin, 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, also was a receiver. Doug Haller, The Athletic, 29 July 2024 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 More perspicacious than angry invective alone, that alchemy of tones has been her signature since the early ’90s, when a 20-something Hanna fronted Bikini Kill, the punk band that became the most visible act associated with the third-wave feminist movement known as riot grrrl. TIME, 7 May 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 some of the nation’s most perspicacious observers have noted, self-regulation is a crucial component of fixing what’s wrong with social media. Gilad Edelman, Wired, 30 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perspicacious
Adjective
  • Relying on security architecture and mutual defense was not wise.
    Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • Infrastructure wise Wrexham are way behind the majority of their competitors.
    The Athletic FC Podcast, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Its power level and suction modes are each displayed on its brilliant LED touchscreen for convenience, too.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 17 May 2025
  • Golfers don’t require night vision goggles or glow in the dark golf balls because the entire course is illuminated by more than 78 brilliant LED lights.
    Candace Oehler, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • For apartment dwellers and people who prefer not to dangle midair, this clever contraption looks like a window-cleaning game changer.
    The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
  • The story centers on 16-year-old Haymitch (Joseph Zada), a clever and resourceful boy from District 12, who’s unexpectedly chosen for this edition of the games, which will feature a deadly twist: twice the number of tributes, with 48 children sent into the arena to battle for their lives.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • This type of intelligent power management would mark a departure from Apple's existing Low Power Mode, which applies system-wide restrictions.
    Tahar Rajab, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • These intelligent adaptations help homeowners effectively reduce their monthly energy expenses.
    Jon Stojan, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Some of it is also building on the brand that somebody really smart will take advantage of whatever opportunity is presented to them.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
  • Fort Worth is at a crucial moment for growth and opportunity, Parker said, stressing the importance of leading with smart policies that ensure the city thrives into the future.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • With distrust running high, both sides have been keen not to appear weak, and economic analysts had low expectations of a breakthrough.
    Emma Farge, USA Today, 12 May 2025
  • Afterward, the friend wanted to return to the hotel to rest again, but the OP was keen to keep exploring.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • In 1982, Israel demonstrated exceptional tactical precision in Operation Mole Cricket 19 in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon, destroying the majority of Syrian aircraft without suffering a single loss.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
  • His rise has been exceptional since signing from Middlesbrough, establishing himself among Emery’s most important players.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • Paige makes the astute observation that Craig and Kyle are similar and need to be prodded along with kind words and attention with everything that happens.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 8 May 2025
  • His astute management of a financial crisis in the Patriarchate of Jerusalem will be appealing to those concerned about the Vatican’s own parlous financial state.
    Aryn Baker, Time, 6 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on perspicacious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!