I am trying to find out if there is a word that you can use to describe somebody who is always able to understand motives standing behind actions of others (particularly in conversations they participate in).
To give an example, the usage of the word would be:
That person is ______, since he always knows what makes other people tick.
I was thinking about insightful, but decided against it since I see it as somewhat dependent on others – insightful person helps others to learn their unknown motivations.
The word I'm looking for should be focused on person reflecting the quality – it's irrelevant if _______ person shares his knowledge with others, or if others truly know what makes them tick or not.
Best Answer
One of the best words to use in your situation is discerning, which denotes exhibiting keen insight and good judgment; perceptive.