Definition

Adjective 1. Mentally acute or penetratingly discerning: Having a clear and sharp understanding; able to perceive and judge things accurately and without being deceived. 2. Seeing things as they truly are; realistic and unclouded by emotion or illusion: Characterized by a clear, unsentimental, and objective perspective.

Usage

The adjective "clear-eyed" describes a person, their perspective, or their assessment. It emphasizes sharp intelligence, keen perception, and a realistic, often unsentimental, view of a situation. It is typically used in formal or literary contexts.

Examples

• The CEO's clear-eyed analysis of the market saved the company from a risky investment.
• She was clear-eyed about the challenges ahead but remained determined to succeed.
• The report offers a clear-eyed assessment of the policy's failures and successes.
• He is too clear-eyed to believe the simplistic promises of the advertisement.

Advanced Usage

• "Clear-eyed view/assessment/analysis": A common collocation emphasizing an objective and realistic evaluation.
  • The historian provided a clear-eyed view of the war's complex causes.
• "Clear-eyed about (something)": A phrase used to indicate someone's realistic understanding of a specific subject or situation.
  • We must be clear-eyed about the limitations of this technology.

Variants and Related Words

• Clear-sighted (adjective): Very similar in meaning, emphasizing good judgment and the ability to understand situations clearly.
  • Clear-sighted leadership is essential in a crisis.
• Perspicacious (adjective): Having a ready insight into and understanding of things (a more formal synonym).
• Discerning (adjective): Showing good judgment, especially in matters of taste or quality.

Synonyms

• Perceptive
• Astute
• Shrewd
• Lucid
• Unillusioned

Antonyms

• Naive
• Myopic
• Short-sighted
• Deluded
• Unperceptive

Adjective

1. mentally acute or penetratingly discerning
   • too clear-eyed not to see what problems would follow
   • chaos could be prevented only by clear-sighted leadership
   • much too perspicacious to be taken in by so spurious an argument