əˈkjuːt əˈkjut dɪsˈkɹɪmɪneɪtɪŋ(ɡ) ɪnˈsaɪ.sɪv ˈpɛnɪtɹeɪtɪŋ ˈpɪɹsɪŋ ˈpɪəsɪŋ ʃɑːp ʃɑɹp showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste the discriminating eye of the connoisseur having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions an acute observer of politics and politicians incisive comments icy knifelike reasoning as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang penetrating insight frequent penetrative observations