as in acidic
very clear and direct
She provided an incisive analysis that changed my entire opinion on the issue.
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Recent Examples of incisive
While David Raya is undoubtedly more incisive with his feet, there is still great risk in trying to clip the ball into midfield or out to the full-backs; should Arsenal lose it, there are four City players up the pitch waiting to counter quickly.
—
Thom Harris, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Shappell is earnest and empathetic, but not as incisive and driven as the play really needs to maintain the requisite dramatic tension.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Below, a closer look at the caps worth trying—based on personal reviews and an incisive look at each helmet and cap’s stats.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
The series became a bestselling book, increasing Anderson’s profile as an incisive commentator with biting wit but very little malice.
—Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incisive
Thom Harris, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Shappell is earnest and empathetic, but not as incisive and driven as the play really needs to maintain the requisite dramatic tension.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
Below, a closer look at the caps worth trying—based on personal reviews and an incisive look at each helmet and cap’s stats.
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
The series became a bestselling book, increasing Anderson’s profile as an incisive commentator with biting wit but very little malice.
—Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for incisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incisive
Adjective
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In some parts of the world, rivers near cobalt and copper mines have become so acidic that communities can no longer drink water from them.—
Abraham Nunbogu,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
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Ideally, lavender should be grown in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline, but never acidic.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If choosing wines, focus on bright, higher-acid white wines that cut through the mouth-coating fattiness of cheese.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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This summery salad is a lesson in salt, fat, acid, and heat.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Another entry in our recent deluge of ironic gorefests, Over Your Dead Body doesn’t really give us anything new, although for its first half at least, the picture gets by on some verve and a modicum of intelligence.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
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That’s more than a little ironic, given that the start-up’s entire proposition revolves around trust.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The festival’s footprint is also laid out in a sunny and concise area of the university campus.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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Drawing inspiration from the Cape’s waters, the menu is concise yet innovative.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Of course, Lee goes heavy on revenge, regret, and Oresteian recriminations, but season 2 is also a trenchant exploration of the surprising interplay between love and class.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
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The narrator of Lerner’s tight, astonishingly trenchant new book pretends to record part of his conversations with his elderly mentor and then uses his memory to write a profile.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But this poignant adolescent moment is undercut by their desperation.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
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Nguyen’s poignant, solemn and ultimately hopeful project for the High Line Plinth — a prominent venue for public art that straddles the intersection of West 30th Street and 10th Avenue — follows projects at the site by Iván Argote, Pamela Rosenkranz, Sam Durant and Simone Leigh.—
Benjamin Sutton,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Coel bites into the acerbic bitterness of that history in their early exchanges, with a vein of malice in questions supposedly intended to reveal who Mary has become and hence what kind of dress will feel true to her.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
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Her acerbic inner monologue (voiced by tennis legend John McEnroe) is a clever meta-commentary on her rage issues, but the lead actress is still the series’ highlight.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Both Angela Ingersoll, who played the ever-hopeful Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the cynical realist Phyllis, pulsed with vivacious energy, playing across from Rapp’s sardonic take on wound-tight Ben and Wallem’s deeply sad exploration of Buddy.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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Stephanie Koenig as Poppy, a sardonic dating app regular who tries her luck with Sasha.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incisive. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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