incisive and penetrating
trenchant criticism
vigorously effective and articulate
a trenchant analysis of the situation
clear-cut, obvious, or distinct
the trenchant divisions between right and wrong — Edith Wharton
archaic or literary said of a weapon or tool: sharp-edged
trenchancy noun
trenchantly adv
[French trenchant, literally ‘cutting’, present part. of trenchier: see trench1]