in·ci·sive

(ĭn-sī′sĭv)

adj.

Penetrating, clear, and sharp, as in operation or expression: an incisive mind; incisive comments.

in·ci′sive·ly adv.

in·ci′sive·ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

incisiveness - keenness and forcefulness of thought or expression or intellect

trenchancy

effectiveness, effectivity, effectuality, effectualness - power to be effective; the quality of being able to bring about an effect

incisiveness

noun

A cutting quality:

bite, edge, keenness, sharpness, sting.

Translations

incisiveness

[ɪnˈsaɪsɪvnɪs] N [of remark, criticism] → lo incisivo, lo mordaz

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

incisiveness

n (of style, tone, words) → Prägnanz f; (of criticism) → Scharfsinnigkeit f; (of mind) → Schärfe f; (of person) → Scharfsinn m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

"Miss Tulliver," he said, with bitter incisiveness, "has the only grounds of rank that anything but vulgar folly can suppose to belong to the middle class; she is thoroughly refined, and her friends, whatever else they may be, are respected for irreproachable honor and integrity.

View in context

Long before, on noticing a dying tree, he had observed, with the pitiless incisiveness which would spare neither others nor himself: 'I am like that.

View in context

This request forced the communicative cleric out of the gangway, and before he could speak in the next room, the girl was talking with strange incisiveness.

View in context

THE accuracy and incisiveness of Chris Moncrieff 's column in yesterday's (April 3) Daily Post was most refreshing and cogent.

No fan of potential May successors; LETTERS

Coach Paulo Bento did not field the two Spanish-based rookies Lee Kang-in and Paik Seung-ho that he had named in the roster and there was plenty of international experience in the line-up but the incisiveness needed at the international level was just not there.

Late Lee goal gives Korea labored win over Bolivia

class="MsoNormalOn Mr James Montgomery, NMG Board youngest member who is also set to leave the board towards the middle of this year after serving in it for six years, Mr Kiboro described him as a man who brought incisiveness to NMG especially with his contribution in the organisation's digital development.

Nation Media Group bids farewell to Olive Mugenda

The Azkals were left undone by a combination of poor defending and Vietnam's incisiveness as they conceded a goal in each half in Sunday's match played before a crowd of 5,500 at Panaad Stadium here.

Fearless Azkals primed for another Hanoi miracle

South Africa will want to tighten up in the field and perhaps find some extra incisiveness with their bowling as they face tougher challenges ahead.

Kenyans falter: South Africa's Tonder bags ton to sink U19 side in New Zealand

Still, the book does not examine Muslim communities in Europe with the same incisiveness that it dedicates to the European status quo.

Journey into Europe; Islam, Immigration, and Identity

From his spell at Chelsea, there was a perception that Salah was not a natural finisher, that his trickery, incisiveness and speed were undermined by a lack of composure.

Game-changer Salah could be the best bit of business done by any of big four; WEST HAM 1 LIVERPOOL 4 Lanzini 55 Salah 21, 75, Matip 24, Oxlade-Chamberlain 56 mirror.co.uk/sport SMLO 05.11.2017 SUNDAY MIRROR 69; TOMORROW: Every team, every game, every goal Don't miss your super football pull-out in the Mirror

Out of possession, they closed down the Villa defenders quickly and, with the ball, they were even more rapid with the pace and incisiveness of their attacking play.

Lessons to take from Villa's loss; COMMENT

It is a tale told with integrity and incisiveness that more than succeeds in engendering empathy.

Laird, Elizabeth: Welcome to Nowhere