perceptive

Definitions

per- (thoroughly) + -cept- ("taken") + -ive (tending to) = "tending to take things in thoroughly." A perceptive person doesn't just see the surface — they take in the small, telling details others miss. Note: perceptive describes a person's insight; perceptible (next of kin) describes whether a thing can be noticed at all.

Example Sentences

• 1.

  She made several perceptive comments about the film.

• 2.

  It was perceptive of you to notice his discomfort.

• 3.

  A good therapist is unusually perceptive.

Easily Confused

perceptive vs perceptible — perceptive describes a sharp-minded person (a perceptive critic). perceptible describes a thing faint but noticeable (a perceptible change in temperature). One is about the observer, the other about the observed.