keenness

1 a harsh or sharp quality <the keenness of the knife should tell you that it was sharpened recently> <a writer famous for the keenness of her wit> Synonyms acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bite, bitterness, harshness, edge, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartnessRelated Words ginger, punch, spice, tang; raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol; cattiness, maliciousness; pointedness, thorninessNear Antonyms gentleness, kindlinessAntonyms mildness, softness

2 urgent desire or interest <was looking forward to his birthday party with the keenness of a youngster> Synonyms appetite, ardor, avidity, avidness, desirousness, enthusiasm, excitement, hunger, impatience, eagerness, lust, thirstRelated Words alacrity, quickness; ambition, gusto, zest; appetence, appetency, fervency, passion, warmth, zeal; amenability, readiness, willingnessNear Antonyms casualness, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern; aloofness, detachment; impassivity, languidness, languor; halfheartedness, lukewarmnessAntonyms apathy, indifference

3 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters <had the financial keenness to know that the stock was overvalued> Synonyms astuteness, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, clear-sightedness, foxiness, hardheadedness, intelligence, acumen, knowingness, sharpness, shrewdness, witRelated Words discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, percipience, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom; artfulness, artifice, craft, craftiness, cunning, deviousness, guile, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness; brain(s), gray matter, intellect, reason, senseNear Antonyms artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naïveté (also naivete or naiveté), simplemindedness, simpleness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness; brainlessness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, half-wittedness, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, senselessness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, vacuity, witlessness

4 the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences <there's an enhanced keenness of hearing that young mothers seem to develop> Synonyms acuteness, delicacy, acuity, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sensitiveness, sensitivity, sharpnessRelated Words hyperacuity, hypersensitiveness, hypersensitivity, oversensitiveness, oversensitivity, supersensitivity; accuracy, exactitude, exactness, fineness