adjective

incisive

in-SIGH-siv/ɪnˈsaɪsɪv/

Sharp enough to cut cleanly through something.

The blade's incisive edge cuts a clean strip from the leather.

A sharp blade cleanly separates a narrow strip from thick brown leather.

Etymology

inLatininto

+cisLatinto cut

+iveLatinhaving a tendency or quality

Originally describing cutting into something with a sharp edge, incisive transferred physical sharpness to the mind. It describes understanding or expression that is acute, clear, and direct.

In context

True Crime Rocket Science3:28

kind of defining it labeling it as an act of evil means that he knows what happened and um so that is quite an incisive um remark

Coder's Handwritten Notes + Analyzing Chris Watts' First Handwritten Statement from August 14th

More examples

The rabbit's incisive front teeth slice through the carrot.
An incisive blade leaves a clean cut in the stem.
The dull knife no longer has an incisive edge.

Forms

incisive · more incisive · most incisive

incisor noun — A front tooth used for cutting.

Similar words

sharp: Describes an edge that cuts or a point that pierces.
keen: Emphasizes an exceptionally sharp cutting edge on a blade.