perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv 
1
: responsive to sensory stimuli : discerning
a perceptive eye
2
a
: capable of or exhibiting keen perception : observant
a perceptive scholar
b
: characterized by sympathetic understanding or insight
Examples of perceptive in a Sentence
He is a very perceptive young man.
due to their ability to rotate their ears, cats are very perceptive when it comes to pinpointing the source of a sound
Recent Examples on the Web
In recent years, the growing availability of personalized music data has made many listeners more perceptive of their own tastes and tendencies.
—
Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Can revolution be far behind? Tracy has situated the story in a nebulous region between allegorical and tangibly reality-based, which results in a critique that’s superficially cutting instead of deeply perceptive.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024
In 2019, Christian Malek, a perceptive and imaginative leader, founded NCA, which not only became a successful business but also signaled a shift in the private equity industry.
—Tyler Giroud, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Loveless, which hit shelves in 2020, gives a perceptive look at one teenager’s experience with starting university.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024
From Rihanna to Elliot Page to Simone Biles check out these 50 celebs born under Pisces!
01 of 49
John Travolta
Empathetic and perceptive, John Travolta's Pisces streak shines in every role from Grease to Pulp Fiction.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024
While the perceptive Moon in your sharing sector aligns with relaxed Venus in your responsible 6th house, shedding the mindset that life must be difficult can reveal plausible and mutually beneficial opportunities right under your nose.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2024
Cerebral and introspective, Mr. Lelyveld was for nearly four decades one of the most respected journalists in America, a globe-trotting adventurer who reported from Washington, Congo, India, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and London, winning acclaim for his prolific and perceptive articles.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2024
After the perceptive Moon shifts into your social 11th house, asking your friends for their view of the situation may help.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024
Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Can revolution be far behind? Tracy has situated the story in a nebulous region between allegorical and tangibly reality-based, which results in a critique that’s superficially cutting instead of deeply perceptive.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024
In 2019, Christian Malek, a perceptive and imaginative leader, founded NCA, which not only became a successful business but also signaled a shift in the private equity industry.
—Tyler Giroud, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024
Loveless, which hit shelves in 2020, gives a perceptive look at one teenager’s experience with starting university.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 17 Mar. 2024
From Rihanna to Elliot Page to Simone Biles check out these 50 celebs born under Pisces!
01 of 49
John Travolta
Empathetic and perceptive, John Travolta's Pisces streak shines in every role from Grease to Pulp Fiction.
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024
While the perceptive Moon in your sharing sector aligns with relaxed Venus in your responsible 6th house, shedding the mindset that life must be difficult can reveal plausible and mutually beneficial opportunities right under your nose.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2024
Cerebral and introspective, Mr. Lelyveld was for nearly four decades one of the most respected journalists in America, a globe-trotting adventurer who reported from Washington, Congo, India, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and London, winning acclaim for his prolific and perceptive articles.
—Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2024
After the perceptive Moon shifts into your social 11th house, asking your friends for their view of the situation may help.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 14 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'perceptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near perceptive
Cite this Entry
“Perceptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perceptive. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv
: capable of or showing a keen ability to observe and understand
Medical Definition
perceptive
adjective
per·cep·tive
pər-ˈsep-tiv
: responsive to sensory stimulus
a perceptive eye
perceptively
adverb
perceptiveness
noun
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