Perceptive
mediumPositive toneper-SEP-tiv
adjective
Definition
Having or showing sensitive insight
Memory hook
PERCEPT-ive: strong at PERCEPTION - like having eagle eyes that notice what others miss.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The therapist was perceptive about her patient's emotional state.”
“His perceptive comments revealed deep understanding of the issue.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The therapist was ______ about her patient's emotional state.”
Show answer
perceptive
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Perceptive is a medium-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "discerning" or "insightful" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "obtuse".
Related GRE Words
discerning
Having or showing good judgment or understanding
shrewd
Having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute
astute
Having or showing an ability to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to one's advantage
judicious
Having, showing, or done with good judgment or sense
lucid
Expressed clearly; easy to understand
sagacious
Having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgment; wise
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