ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Incisive', Synonyms of 'Incisive' & More on 'Incisive'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

incisive
    adj 1: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine
           distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and
           politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike
           reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a
           fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative
           observations" [syn: acute, discriminating,
           incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating,
           penetrative, piercing, sharp]
    2: suitable for cutting or piercing; "incisive teeth"

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Incisive \In*ci"sive\, a. [Cf. F. incisif.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. Having the quality of incising, cutting, or penetrating,
      as with a sharp instrument; cutting; hence, sharp; acute;
      sarcastic; biting; trenchant. "An incisive, high voice."
      --G. Eliot.
      [1913 Webster]

            And her incisive smile accrediting
            That treason of false witness in my blush. --Mrs.
                                                  Browning.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the incisors; incisor; as, the
      incisive bones, the premaxillaries.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Clearly and succinctly stated, with penetrating insight
      into the issue at hand; as, an incisive comment.
      [PJC]

Thesaurus Results for incisive:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulent, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, active, acute, aggressive, animated, apperceptive, appercipient, argute, astringent, astute, biting, bitter, brisk, canny, caustic, clear-cut, cogent, corroding, corrosive, critical, cutting, cynical, discerning, double-edged, driving, dynamic, edged, effective, energetic, enterprising, enthusiastic, escharotic, farseeing, farsighted, fierce, forceful, forcible, foreseeing, foresighted, forethoughted, forethoughtful, full of pep, go-go, gutsy, harsh, hearty, imperative, impetuous, impressive, intense, ironical, keen, kinetic, lively, living, longheaded, longsighted, lusty, mettlesome, mordacious, mordant, nervous, penetrating, peppy, perceptive, percipient, perspicacious, perspicuous, piercing, poignant, powerful, provident, punchy, rigorous, robust, rough, sagacious, sarcastic, sardonic, scathing, scorching, sensational, severe, sharp, shrewd, sinewed, sinewy, slashing, smacking, snappy, spanking, spirited, stabbing, stinging, strenuous, strident, striking, stringent, strong, take-charge, take-over, tart, telling, terse, trenchant, understanding, vehement, vibrant, vigorous, violent, virulent, vital, vitriolic, vivacious, vivid, withering, zestful, zesty, zippy

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