Crossword clues for incisive
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Incisive \In*ci"sive\, a. [Cf. F. incisif.]
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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.And her incisive smile accrediting That treason of false witness in my blush.
--Mrs. Browning. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the incisors; incisor; as, the incisive bones, the premaxillaries.
Clearly and succinctly stated, with penetrating insight into the issue at hand; as, an incisive comment.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
early 15c., inscisif, "slashing, cutting with a sharp edge," from Middle French incisif and directly from Medieval Latin incisivus, from Latin incis-, past participle stem of incidere (see incision). Originally literal; figurative sense of "mentally acute" first recorded 1850 as a borrowing from French. Related: Incisively; incisiveness.
Wiktionary
a. Quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression; decisive; forthright.
WordNet
adj. 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, keen, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp]
very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation; "an incisive mind"; "a keen intelligence"; "of sharp and active intellect" [syn: keen, sharp]
suitable for cutting or piercing; "incisive teeth"; "the piercing needle" [syn: piercing]
Wikipedia
Usage examples of "incisive".
He was a senior specialist in chicanery and cajolery, trained to the incisive efficiency and boldness that characterized Dagenham Couriers and reflected the ruthlessness of its founder.
If she pouted a little under this scientific inspection, he noted the slight twitch of the mentalis muscle at its point of origin in the incisive fossa.
World War II, later became one of the most incisive critics of American arrogance, mythopoeia and self-deception.
Chennamma hovered in the doorway, alternately telling Reki to stop sniveling and telling Anita about the neighbors and how hard her life had become with an old man whose reputation for incisive palm-readings was failing.
As his confidence grew and he became absorbed in the music, the tempi became faster, the rhythms more incisive.
Law reviews, first minor and then major, began publishing his semi-controversial articles as much for their style as for their content, for the young associate professor had a seductive way with the written word, at once riveting and arcane, by turns flowery and incisive.
One moment the words before her were sharp, incisive, and her mind hopscotched through a dozen prosecutorial tricks she could use against Drake Boone.
Just now and then he posted an incisive little farewell note in the Paris sewerage system, and it was delivered promptly to Dufarge's boot.