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perspicacious

Definition of perspicaciousnext
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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How does the adjective perspicacious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of perspicacious are astute, sagacious, and shrewd. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.

a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

When is astute a more appropriate choice than perspicacious?

Although the words astute and perspicacious have much in common, astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

In what contexts can sagacious take the place of perspicacious?

The synonyms sagacious and perspicacious are sometimes interchangeable, but sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

When could shrewd be used to replace perspicacious?

While in some cases nearly identical to perspicacious, shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perspicacious
Adjective
  • Or similarly, users pointing out that the Ratliff children, when seated three abreast, resemble the three wise monkeys of see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Up in the balcony, even Statler and Waldorf have stopped cracking wise.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The third-year quarterback was brilliant, going 15-of-20 for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Their effort to find a home in Overtown seemed futile until Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, who grew up in Liberty City, conceived a brilliant idea.
    Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Each clever accessory is under $15 — that’s less than the cost of a sandwich special at my favorite deli.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
  • With two bedrooms and two baths, the home is surprisingly expansive, boasting just under 2,400 square feet across its clever layout.
    Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Caterpillar’s intelligent product lineup spans core construction and earthmoving equipment, along with connected site systems.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Conversely, if these foundations can be reinforced, even partially, the intelligent age may yet fulfil its promise of progress.
    Klaus Schwab, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • An elastic waistband stays comfortable for hours, making this a smart pick for long flights or full travel days.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026
  • There are smart-looking couples in the mix, too, snagging a romantic getaway in the heart of Austin—near live music, bars, and restaurants and just 10 miles from the airport.
    Kathryn Streeter, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Gates was keen to highlight that society needs to do more to ready itself for an AI era, and that work so far hasn’t been adequate.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Our daughter learnt how to draw comic strips with an Athenian cartoon artist and was keen to try the photography course and stargazing.
    Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Together, these innovations position the D19 not only as a high-performance SUV but also as a vehicle engineered for exceptional control and confidence in a variety of driving conditions.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
  • The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes Waubonsee graduates who demonstrate exceptional achievement and meaningful, ongoing contributions to their professions, communities and alma mater, the release said.
    Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The champion of deregulation here embraced radical regulation, in a way that served his interests as a homeowner but was also politically astute.
    Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
  • And perhaps Disney’s deal with OpenAI will prove prescient and astute.
    Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Perspicacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perspicacious. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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