Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 29, 2025 is incisive. Incisive is an adjective meaning impressively direct and decisive. It describes communication that is very clear and direct. It can also describe a person who explains difficult ideas clearly and confidently. For example, a columnist might be known for their incisive commentary. The film "Death Becomes Her" contained incisive social critiques. The word's original meaning, from around 1600, was "having a cutting edge or piercing point." The modern meaning has been in use since the mid-1800s. Incisive is related to incisor teeth, which are adapted for cutting. Both words derive from the Latin verb caedere, meaning "to cut."