The word trenchant comes from the Anglo-French verb trencher, meaning "to cut," and may ultimately derive from the Vulgar Latin trinicare, meaning "to cut in three." Hence, a trenchant sword is one with a keen edge; a trenchant remark is one that cuts deep; and a trenchant observation is one that cuts to the heart of the matter. Relatives of trenchant in English include the noun trench ("a long ditch cut into the ground") and the verb retrench ("to cut down or pare away" or "to cut down expenses").
From Collins Dictionary:
1. cutting; sharp; caustic
2. keen; penetrating; incisive; sharply perceptive
3. forceful; vigorous; effective and articulate
4. clear-cut; distinct
From Cambridge Dictionary:
1. of something said or written) forcefully and effectively expressed, and often in few words
2. severe, expressing strong criticism or forceful opinions
From Vocabulary.com:
The word trenchant originates from tranchant, which in French means "sharp" or "cutting," related to the word trench, which originally meant a line carved in wood and later came to mean a ditch carved into the earth. The word is often used to describe political commentary or cultural criticism.
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