trenchant remark
- noun
- /ˈtrɛnʧənt rɪˈmɑrk/
- Formal
:
comentario agudo
- His trenchant remarks often leave people speechless.
Examples
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She made a trenchant remark about the government's policies.
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His trenchant remark on the current political climate was both insightful and provocative.
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During the meeting, she offered a trenchant remark that revealed the core of the problem.
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His trenchant remarks about corporate ethics challenged the industry to reconsider its practices.
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The critic's trenchant remark about the film's flaws sparked lively debate among the audience.
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During the meeting, she offered a trenchant remark that revealed the core of the problem.
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The critic's trenchant remark about the film's flaws sparked lively debate among the audience.
Synonyms
1
4.7
A clear, detailed explanation that helps you understand a subject better
1
7.2
A harshly critical comment that aims to hurt or mock someone
A sharp remark that hurts or shocks people
A short sharp comment that criticizes someone in a hurtful or sarcastic way
A sharp, slightly bitter comment that can hurt feelings
A remark that is harsh and meant to hurt someone's feelings
Antonyms
How Incisive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a sharply insightful or cutting comment' is directly and compositionally derived from 'trenchant' (sharply expressed, incisive) + 'remark' (a statement). This straightforward adjective+noun combination follows normal compositional patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent words can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Trenchant remark comes from an old word trenchant that meant 'cutting', like a knife slicing through something. So a trenchant remark is a comment that 'cuts' through confusion to show the main point, which is why it means a very sharp, clear, often strong comment.