From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Penetrative \Pen"e*tra*tive\, adjective [Cf. F. p['e]n['e]tratif.]
1. Tending to penetrate; of a penetrating quality; piercing; as, the penetrative sun.
His look became keen and penetrative. --Hawthorne.
2. Having the power to affect or impress the mind or heart; impressive; as, penetrative shame. --Shak.
3. Acute; discerning; sagacious; as, penetrative wisdom. ''The penetrative eye.'' --Wordsworth.
Led on by skill of penetrative soul. --Grainger.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
adjective
1: having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions; "an acute observer of politics and politicians"; "incisive comments"; "icy knifelike reasoning"; "as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang"; "penetrating insight"; "frequent penetrative observations" [syn: {acute}, {discriminating}, {incisive}, {keen}, {knifelike}, {penetrating}, {piercing}, {sharp}]
2: tending to penetrate; having the power of entering or piercing; "a toxic penetrative spray applied to the surface"; "a cold penetrating wind"; "a penetrating odor" [syn: {penetrating}]
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