perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv 
1
: responsive to sensory stimuli : discerning
a perceptive eye
2
a
: capable of or exhibiting keen perception : observant
a perceptive scholar
b
: characterized by sympathetic understanding or insight
Examples of perceptive in a Sentence
He is a very perceptive young man.
due to their ability to rotate their ears, cats are very perceptive when it comes to pinpointing the source of a sound
Recent Examples on the Web
The creatives are perceptive about knowing when to play something for laughs and when to swerve, letting the audience stumble into an unexpected and very earnest emotional gut-punch.
—
Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
At Wednesday’s tense hearing, one perceptive question was posed by Rep. Debra Tendrich, a freshman Democrat from Lake Worth Beach, who has experience working with nonprofits.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
When an employee like Emily exhibits signs of distress, a perceptive leader acknowledges the issue without judgment, fostering an environment where team members feel seen and valued beyond their professional roles.
—Andriana Eliadis, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The perceptive Crow man again puts the pieces together, and the trio ultimately decide — with everyone involved expired, except Teonna — not to dig any deeper.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perceptive
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Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025
At Wednesday’s tense hearing, one perceptive question was posed by Rep. Debra Tendrich, a freshman Democrat from Lake Worth Beach, who has experience working with nonprofits.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2025
When an employee like Emily exhibits signs of distress, a perceptive leader acknowledges the issue without judgment, fostering an environment where team members feel seen and valued beyond their professional roles.
—Andriana Eliadis, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
The perceptive Crow man again puts the pieces together, and the trio ultimately decide — with everyone involved expired, except Teonna — not to dig any deeper.
—Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perceptive
Cite this Entry
“Perceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perceptive. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv
: capable of or showing a keen ability to observe and understand
Medical Definition
perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv
: responsive to sensory stimulus
a perceptive eye
perceptively
adverb
perceptiveness
noun
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