trenchant

[tren-chuhnt] / ˈtrɛn tʃənt /

ADJECTIVE

sarcastic, scathing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acerbic biting caustic incisive mordant penetrating pointed pungent salient unsparing

WEAK

acid acidulous acute astringent clear clear-cut crisp critical crushing cutting distinct driving dynamic effective effectual emphatic energetic explicit forceful forcible graphic hurtful impressive intense keen piquant potent powerful razor-sharp salty sardonic sententious severe sharp significant strong tart to the point unequivocal vigorous weighty well-defined

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bland blunt calm dull gentle kind mild nice soothing stupid

WEAK

frivolous impotent weak

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Still, China’s stagnant dollar economy is at the heart of many of its most trenchant problems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Anchored by Huertas’ blazing performance, Pierre Saint-Martin’s trenchant debut plays both as a portrait of a person stuck in a state of perpetual grieving and an indictment of a troubled country.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

Associated Newspapers has not issued a statement in response to the BBC, but has previously denied the allegations, saying it has "filed a trenchant defence of its journalism against claims of phone-hacking".

From BBC • Sep. 12, 2025

Smith understood how her features cut into and through a role – wide eyes amply lidded, trenchant cheekbones, features that one might associate with snobbery.

From Salon • Oct. 1, 2024

Mackenzie, a trenchant writer and an excellent reasoner.

From The Story of the Great Fire in St. John, N.B., June 20th, 1877 by Stewart, George

Vocabulary lists containing trenchant

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