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.

He has trenchant critics, and potential rivals, but still has approval ratings of which most western leaders can only dream.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

But it’s consistently appealing, underpinned by fluent Broadway pop-rock melodies that, importantly, never overwhelm the lyrics, which are trenchant and clever.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 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

But the most spirited discussions at Cannes are over whether the movie is trenchant or skin-deep.

From New York Times • May 22, 2024

But I don’t understand why Venables, or some of the men who think as I do, and wield trenchant pens in high places, why they don’t come out, and set all this right.

From Tennyson and His Friends by Various

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