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.

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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 Forty-five years have passed since the late Professor Price coined his perspicacious term. IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2010 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perspicacious
Adjective
  • But for VCs like me, the wisest choice right now is to back the startups making healthcare systems more proactive, preventative, and fair – for everyone.
    Check Warner MBE, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • That caution proved wise, as the photos of young Mohammad turned out to be highly misleading.
    Seth Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Utah's first national park unfolds like a living painting, where massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red soar into brilliant blue skies.
    Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • That's the only way to honor the spirit of the brilliant, elusive Parker.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Finally, her writing is a weekly source of delight—so clever, fun, informative, and uplifting.
    Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
  • These clever yet bizarre gadgets are both fun and oddly useful.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The war in Ukraine is creating high pressure innovation in intelligent drones and swarms.
    Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • These are dynamic, intelligent, very witty women that can use their words in arguments.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Use of cellphones, smart watches and accessories is prohibited in the performance space.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Welcome to the age of conversational mobility, where natural dialogue with your car is becoming as routine as checking the weather on a smart speaker.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Matt Woosnam Everton remain active in the market, and keen to strengthen on the wings in particular — so the caveat with this line-up is that things could easily change again by the end of the window.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Unmatched Sports & Recreation Facilities Active travelers keen to work up a sweat, take note: likely no other resort on the planet rivals Forte Village in terms of both sports and recreational programming and facilities.
    Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The term describes someone over 80 with an exceptional memory — one at least as good as the memories of people who are 20 to 30 years younger.
    Carolyn Rosenblatt, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Or the tax only applies in exceptional situations, such as changing export controls.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • An astute judge of talent, Reid also suggested John Bonham fill the drum chair in Led Zeppelin.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Andy, in his most astute moment of the episode, points out that Jax does have control.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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