Added 9 October 2026
incisive
/ɪnˈsaɪ.sɪv/ adjective
Latin root: incīsīvus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about incisive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Intelligently analytical and concise. Accurate and sharply focused.
- Accurate and sharply focused.
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Quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression.
An incisive producer, who expressed vehement disapproval with my pitch upon my first sentence.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense “cutting, penetrating”), borrowed from Medieval Latin incīsīvus, from incīdō (“to cut in, cut through”) + -īvus (“-ive”, adjectival suffix). Compare Middle French incisif.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)