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
Forty-five years have passed since the late Professor Price coined his perspicacious term.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2010
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
More perspicacious than angry invective alone, that alchemy of tones has been her signature since the early ’90s, when a 20-something Hanna fronted Bikini Kill, the punk band that became the most visible act associated with the third-wave feminist movement known as riot grrrl.
—TIME, 7 May 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
IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2010
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
More perspicacious than angry invective alone, that alchemy of tones has been her signature since the early ’90s, when a 20-something Hanna fronted Bikini Kill, the punk band that became the most visible act associated with the third-wave feminist movement known as riot grrrl.
—TIME, 7 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perspicacious
Adjective
-
Over the last two seasons, Alexander has missed 20 games due to injury, and adding him into a cornerback room that is already reeling from health issues would not be the wisest decision.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2025
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Which is wiser: Spending money on more firefighting resources after wildfires break out and absorbing the extraordinary cost of damages, or investing in technologies and training to prevent wildfires from happening in the first place?—
Abhishek Singh,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
And all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
22 June 2025
-
However, the 29-year-old righty has been brilliant at Triple-A this season, going 7-0 with a 0.90 ERA over 50 innings (11 games, 9 starts).—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
Even the cleverest plans leave room for a little improvisation.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
-
Part of the demand is perhaps driven by a clever sales tactic.—
Annette Choi,
CNN Money,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Celebrate intelligent risk-taking, not just polished outcomes.—
Bill Fischer,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
Lucy’s colleagues refer to men like him—tall, handsome, in finance, intelligent, urbane—as unicorns.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Hundreds of years after mankind is wiped out, a smart buoy (Kristen Stewart) turns on and strikes up a friendship with the last satellite (Steven Yeun) launched into space.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 June 2025
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Right now, Meta pretty much owns the smart glasses space and these specs could help cement that leadership.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
In this wider advice industry, opinion circulates between and in front of strangers, who become keen observers of others’ shocking revelations.—
Merve Emre,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
-
To guide those keen to experience the healing power of the sea, all-inclusive holiday experts at Travel Republic have analyzed data to reveal the saltiest seas–and therefore the best for ocean therapy.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Barring an exceptional situation, such as an injury crisis, he is not expected to play regularly for the first team — despite appearing in five games this season and scoring his first senior goal in May.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
13 June 2025
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From San Francisco to Seoul, these 58 extraordinary watering holes serve up exceptional cocktails, stunning design and world-class service.—
Forbes Staff,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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The 51-year-old is widely considered one of the most astute tacticians in the Premier League and has been the figurehead of one of the smartest, shrewdest clubs anywhere in European soccer for the last seven years.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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It should be noted that Bouchard was an astute draft selection by Chiarelli and his scouts in 2018.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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