as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
believing that poetry need not be as perspicuous as prose, he writes poems that are intentionally ambiguous
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Recent Examples of perspicuous
But where Hofstadter is playfully enigmatic and brashly brainy, Chalmers’s writing is perspicuous and teacherly — an approach that keeps it from collapsing into recalcitrant obscurity.
—
Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2022
Conditions in the state the planes left behind them were far less perspicuous.
—The Economist, 8 Feb. 2020
The president began his Monday by scrutinizing his national security briefing, filling its margins with perspicuous questions and observations.
—Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, 10 July 2017
Unspoken but perspicuous is the wish to (at worst) score points off Democrats and (at best) free up a seat on the nation’s most important appeals court for a nominee from the Federalist Society weapons locker.
—Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, 12 May 2017
Washington Post, 11 Feb. 2022
Conditions in the state the planes left behind them were far less perspicuous.
—The Economist, 8 Feb. 2020
The president began his Monday by scrutinizing his national security briefing, filling its margins with perspicuous questions and observations.
—Eric Levitz, Daily Intelligencer, 10 July 2017
Unspoken but perspicuous is the wish to (at worst) score points off Democrats and (at best) free up a seat on the nation’s most important appeals court for a nominee from the Federalist Society weapons locker.
—Garrett Epps, The Atlantic, 12 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perspicuous
Adjective
-
At the most obvious level, of course.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
But her agent at GSE Worldwide represents all three of the other FP Movement tennis players, Sloane Stephens, Danielle Collins, and Sofia Kenin, which made for an easy and obvious transition.—
Jessica Schiffer,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The message and disrespect were unmistakable.—
Wanda James,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
-
This is a group of men playing with purpose, swagger and the unmistakable look of a team that knows the door is open — and plans to kick it off its hinges.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Two people suffered life-threatening injuries and a suspect has been arrested in connection with an apparent stabbing in San Francisco on Saturday evening, police said.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
For many of the previous 120 days, Tara tells Thomas what is happening to her, and convinces him of her situation through her apparent clairvoyance.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
When Hunter arrives at our table in a sleek black skirt, her warmth toward Rosta is immediately evident.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Sirianni’s loyalty to his staff, beyond his two internal offensive coordinator promotions, is evident.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The hatch closure livestream could be a rather straightforward affair, with live video showing views of the astronauts entering the Dragon capsule, shutting the hatch and reporting down to Mission Control.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
As preteens enter puberty, their faces may need a more straightforward product to target acne.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The report does make clear that neither of the plane's two other engines were on fire before the crash.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
But go ahead and clear space around early-blooming plants like crocus, grape hyacinth, Helleborus, winter-hardy ferns, and spring ephemerals.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But beyond all that, the sports issue has brought out the reality of biology itself, underscoring the fact that femininity and masculinity are not just states of mind, and that men and women are irreversibly, insurmountably different and distinct in anatomy and physiology.—
Alanna Smith,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The stimulation produces a distinct physical sensation inside the nose.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perspicuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicuous. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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