How to pronounce incisive
Say it like in-SY-siv. Incisive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce incisive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- SY
- siv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Incisive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- sivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of incisive
American and British speakers say incisive in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/ in the US and /ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-SY-siv.
What does incisive mean?
- Intelligently analytical and concise. (of a person or mental process)
- Accurate and sharply focused. (of an account)
- Quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression. (of an action)“An incisive producer, who expressed vehement disapproval with my pitch upon my first sentence.”
Where does incisive come from?
Late Middle English (in the sense “cutting, penetrating”), borrowed from Medieval Latin incīsīvus, from incīdō (“to cut in, cut through”) + -īvus (“-ive”, adjectival suffix).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with incisive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of incisive.
Questions about saying incisive
How do you pronounce incisive?
Say in-SY-siv. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/. In British English it is /ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in incisive?
Incisive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SY). Broken into parts: in · SY · siv.
Do Americans and Brits say incisive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/ and the British form is /ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.