trenchant

Meaning

1. (archaic) Fitted to trench or cut; gutting; sharp.
2. (archaic) Fitted to trench or cut; gutting; sharp.
3. (figuratively) Keen; biting; vigorously articulate and effective; severe.

Synonyms

keen

sharp

incisive

acute

biting

shrill

acrid

acrimonious

clear

cutting

distinct

mordant

poignant

pointed

pungent

searching

smart

tart

lurid

scathing

mordacious

waspish

strident

hard-hitting

acerbic

crisp

acerb

bitter

nasty

lucid

racy

piercing

caustic

edged

clear-cut

luculent

unequivocal

nipping

peaked

peaky

penetrating

perceptive

perspicacious

perspicuous

piked

plain

univocal

profound

acuate

quick-witted

Translations

tranchant

incisivo

beißend

scherp

cortante

afiado

acuto

κοφτερός

scharf

snijdend

heftig

puntegut

herb

hart

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈtɹɛnʃənt/

Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English from Old French trenchant, the present participle of trenchier (“to cut”).