perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv 
1
: responsive to sensory stimuli : discerning
a perceptive eye
2
a
: capable of or exhibiting keen perception : observant
a perceptive scholar
b
: characterized by sympathetic understanding or insight
Examples of perceptive in a Sentence
He is a very perceptive young man.
due to their ability to rotate their ears, cats are very perceptive when it comes to pinpointing the source of a sound
Recent Examples on the Web
Like his perceptive doc about Joy Division, Everybody Digs Bill Evans is about the ordinary that feeds the extraordinary and leaves us to figure out the rest for ourselves.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Mark O’Halloran’s psychologically and emotionally perceptive screenplay, based on Owen Martell’s semi-fictionalized novel, Intermission, never gets into specifics about the length of time the two musicians have known each other or the depth of their friendship.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Yet an outstanding cast, scripts that are perceptive about grief and remorse, and Hennie’s impressionistic directing more than make up for it.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Yes, for sure, and that’s a very perceptive question (and that was a very perceptive and generous review, thank you for it).
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceptive
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Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Mark O’Halloran’s psychologically and emotionally perceptive screenplay, based on Owen Martell’s semi-fictionalized novel, Intermission, never gets into specifics about the length of time the two musicians have known each other or the depth of their friendship.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Yet an outstanding cast, scripts that are perceptive about grief and remorse, and Hennie’s impressionistic directing more than make up for it.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Yes, for sure, and that’s a very perceptive question (and that was a very perceptive and generous review, thank you for it).
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceptive
Cite this Entry
“Perceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perceptive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv
: capable of or showing a keen ability to observe and understand
Medical Definition
perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv
: responsive to sensory stimulus
a perceptive eye
perceptively
adverb
perceptiveness
noun
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