incisive

adjective

in·​ci·​sive in-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce incisive (audio)
: impressively direct and decisive (as in manner or presentation)
an incisive analysis
an incisive unsentimental writer
incisively adverb
incisiveness noun

Did you know?

Incisive has meant "impressively direct and decisive" since around 1834 and derives from the Latin verb caedere, meaning "to cut." Its linguistic kin include many cuttings from the fruitful stem caedere, such as scissors, chisel, incise ("to cut into or engrave"), excise ("to remove by cutting"), incisor ("a front tooth typically adapted for cutting"), incision ("cut" or "gash"), precise ("minutely exact"), and concise ("brief"). Incisive also carries a couple of lesser-known literal meanings relating to cutting: "having a cutting edge or piercing point" (as in "incisive fangs"), and, in dentistry, "of, relating to, or situated near the incisors."

Examples of incisive in a Sentence

She's known for her incisive mind and quick wit.
Recent Examples on the Web In an incisive and humorous signal of the class divide between them, Shuo requests soy sauce at the dinner table and Wei’s mother, somewhat taken aback, offers him four types of the condiment. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 Also, speaking of this time in the world, trying to make something that’s loving and joyful and still hopefully sharp and incisive and all the naughty scenes that people are used to from me, but with a kind of underlying, underpinned message of love and hope. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 17 Feb. 2024 Gorsuch is too distinctive and incisive a voice as a writer and legal thinker to fake it. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 20 Jan. 2024 His signature moves — blunt satire, facial grimaces, incisive use of video and some occasional lectures — were all intact. David Bauder, Twin Cities, 13 Feb. 2024 Spending time poring over manuscripts to offer thoughtful and incisive critique as a peer reviewer is one of academia’s most thankless jobs. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Feb. 2024 Glasgow has an incisive cadence and clear-eyed resolve that, at first, may rankle. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 21 Jan. 2024 This new setting helps director Joe Dante pull off some truly incisive satire of the Hollywood machine. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023 The incisive playwright cloaks these existential musings amid laugh-a-minute sitcom style banter that had the audience roaring on opening night but there’s meaning amid the mirth. Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'incisive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of incisive was circa 1834

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Dictionary Entries Near incisive

Cite this Entry

“Incisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incisive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

incisive

adjective
in·​ci·​sive in-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce incisive (audio)
: impressively clear and direct
an incisive argument
incisively adverb
incisiveness noun

Medical Definition

incisive

adjective
in·​ci·​sive in-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce incisive (audio)
: incisal
also : of, relating to, or situated near the incisors
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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