Word Study
penetrative
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Adjective penetrative has 2 senses
- penetrative(s = adj.all) acute, discriminating, incisive, keen, knifelike, penetrating, piercing, sharp - 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" Derived form verb penetrate2
- penetrative(s = adj.all) penetrating - tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing; "a toxic penetrative spray applied to the surface"; "a cold penetrating wind"; "a penetrating odor" Derived form verb penetrate7
CIDE DICTIONARY
penetrative, a. [Cf. F. pénétratif.].
- Tending to penetrate; of a penetrating quality; piercing; as, the penetrative sun. [1913 Webster]"His look became keen and penetrative." [1913 Webster]
- Having the power to affect or impress the mind or heart; impressive; as, penetrative shame. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- Acute; discerning; sagacious; as, penetrative wisdom. Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]"Led on by skill of penetrative soul." [1913 Webster]
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