as in wise
formal
having or showing an ability to notice and understand things that are difficult or not obvious
She considers herself a perspicacious judge of character. The critic made some perspicacious observations about the film.
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Recent Examples of perspicacious
If a new Bridgerton-sibling romance each season is the series’ gimmick, then Penelope has proven to be its soul—a vividly realistic protagonist whose perspicacious alter ego tethered each fairytale courtship to earth.
—
Judy Berman, TIME, 14 June 2024
One of the few perspicacious journalists of the Trump era, Graeme Wood, put it pithily: The Deep State is in the White House, and Trump appointed it.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 13 Dec. 2023
With the help of friends in the publishing world, Jaffrey’s draft landed in the hands of the perspicacious Knopf editor Judith Jones in 1971.
—Mayukh Sen, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Photographs show Pym looking jolly and perspicacious, with charmingly crooked English teeth.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022
This particular Ferrari F50 was delivered new, in 1996, to Étienne Léandri, a defense lawyer and perspicacious Ferrari collector from Monaco.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2022
Forty-five years have passed since the late Professor Price coined his perspicacious term.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2010
Judy Berman, TIME, 14 June 2024
One of the few perspicacious journalists of the Trump era, Graeme Wood, put it pithily: The Deep State is in the White House, and Trump appointed it.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 13 Dec. 2023
With the help of friends in the publishing world, Jaffrey’s draft landed in the hands of the perspicacious Knopf editor Judith Jones in 1971.
—Mayukh Sen, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
Photographs show Pym looking jolly and perspicacious, with charmingly crooked English teeth.
—Thomas Mallon, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022
This particular Ferrari F50 was delivered new, in 1996, to Étienne Léandri, a defense lawyer and perspicacious Ferrari collector from Monaco.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2022
Forty-five years have passed since the late Professor Price coined his perspicacious term.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2010
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perspicacious
Adjective
-
Either by choice or otherwise, Wolves lost seven players who appeared regularly in the first team last season and brought in six new faces, so numbers-wise, there is little difference.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The measure further reduces offshore drilling, but the effort to compensate in a region that is highly dependent on the oil industry was a wise move.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As author Andy McCullough wrote in his brilliant book on Kershaw, the future Hall of Famer is the last of his kind and views greatness as a burden instead of an invitation to indulge in the excesses of celebrity.—
Wayne G. McDonnell,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Daffodils need the winter to prepare for their brilliant spring appearance, and getting them in the ground in late September is perfect timing.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
None of them wound up being, to me, especially funny or clever.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Sep. 2025
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So while a raccoon's tiny hand reaching through your shower wall might feel like a scene from a thriller, the real story is far more down-to-earth—a clever animal simply looking for food and shelter.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
For organizations that are serious about modernizing their platforms and adopting AI to drive efficiency and growth, intelligent archiving should be a core part of their digital transformation and data readiness strategies.—
Sean Nathaniel,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Bob was charismatic, intelligent, intense, always interesting— and one of the finest actors ever.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Meta also introduced a new pair of smart glasses made in collaboration with Oakley designed for high-performance sportspeople.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
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Meta has been developing its smart glasses with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica since 2019, and last year renewed a long-term partnership agreement to continue making the products.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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So far, no travel plans have been made, but several analysts expect Xi to repeat his offer, especially knowing that Trump is always keen to be received with diplomatic fanfare.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Vultures possess a keen sense of smell which is unique to the species and explains why they are drawn to dead animals.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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While the Second Circuit decidedly disfavors rehearings en banc, the court identifies several exceptional circumstances where petitions are granted.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The show explores the complex fashion icon, Marie Antoinette, and her timeless appeal, defined by her exceptional style and controversial image, which became synonymous with excess—representing youth, decadence, power and notoriety.—
Laia Farran Graves,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The astute businesswoman was heralded by our Forever First Lady Michelle Obama after Chapman helped Black women lean into their love of the former FLOTUS’s groundbreaking memoir, Becoming.—
Bridgette Bartlett,
Essence,
16 Sep. 2025
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McDonnell will portray Jen, the astute mother-in-law to John (Holloway) who looks after his daughters after an electromagnetic pulse attack throws society into chaos.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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