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Incisive vs Penetrating - What's the difference?

incisive | penetrating |

As adjectives the difference between incisive and penetrating

is that incisive is quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression; decisive; forthright while penetrating is able to pierce or penetrate.

As a verb penetrating is

.

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 ----

    penetrating

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • able to pierce or penetrate
    • The skunk produces a penetrating odor.
  • demonstrating acute or keen understanding
    • His novel shows a penetrating insight into the criminal mind.

    Verb

    (head)