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.

But he offers the trenchant point that it intersperses high-intensity plays with huddled breaks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Jude is especially trenchant about how these realities are sold to us, and what’s inherently funny and tragic about that.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2025

Perhaps this nihilism will prove too trenchant and reactive for some viewers.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 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

I do not think that a more trenchant word has been spoken to this nation since 'Uncle Tom's Cabin.'

From Essays on Modern Novelists by Phelps, William Lyon

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