incisive
adjective
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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
Jessica Kiang, Variety, 28 May 2025
The economy of Haim’s performance is very much in keeping with Reichardt’s less-is-more policy with her actors, which applies to the incisive casting even of the smallest roles, with faces that look right at home in the era.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2025
His approach to Paradise Now was influenced by old interviews of theirs too, where their perspectives were incisive and clear.
—Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2025
Shirley Chisholm Field: Politics In 1968, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, representing New York’s 12th District with a fearless, incisive and unyielding voice.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incisive
Cite this Entry
“Incisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incisive. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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incisive
adjective
Medical Definition
incisive
adjective
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