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Incisive vs Decisive - What's the difference?

incisive | decisive |

As adjectives the difference between incisive and decisive

is that incisive is quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression; decisive; forthright while decisive is having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive.

incisive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression; decisive; forthright.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
  • , chapter=1 citation , passage=She was like a Beardsley Salome , he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive .}}
  • Intelligently analytical and concise.
  • Having the quality of incising, cutting, or penetrating, as with a sharp instrument; sharp; acute; sarcastic; biting.
  • * G. Eliot
  • An incisive , high voice.
  • * Mrs. Browning
  • And her incisive smile accrediting / That treason of false witness in my blush.
  • (anatomy) Of or relating to the incisors.
  • Derived terms

    * incisively * incisiveness * incisivity ----

    decisive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive.
  • ''A decisive battle is fatal for one side's war chances
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=November 3 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages -with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive .}}
  • Marked by promptness and decision.
  • A noble instance of this attribute of the decisive character. -J. Foster.

    Synonyms

    * decided * positive * conclusive

    Antonyms

    * indecisive

    Derived terms

    * decisively * decisiveness

    References

    * (Webster 1913) * ----