acuity
noun
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Do you have acuity or sensitivity?
Acuity is nearly synonymous with at least one sense of sensitivity, yet, as is so often the case with closely related words, there are subtle differences worth observing before you substitute one of these words for the other. Acuity does refer to a form of sensitivity, but it is most often applied to the perceptual senses (as in “visual acuity” or “auditory acuity”). It is also frequently used in reference to the intellect (as in “mental acuity”). Sensitivity has a broader range of meanings than acuity does, including “the capacity of being easily hurt.” It may be used of inanimate objects such as radios (“the sensitivity of the instruments was carefully calibrated”), a context in which acuity is unusual.
Examples of acuity in a Sentence
Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Biden's time in office was marked by concerns over his age and acuity, which came to a head after his disastrous presidential debate with Donald Trump last year.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Former President Clinton defended former President Biden’s mental acuity amid reports that the leader was experiencing a cognitive decline.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 5 June 2025
Wilson also turns in one of her most commanding, dynamic vocal performances to date, crescendoing from a soft-focus, tender vocal, before gradually reaching into her upper register for powerful moments that heighten the song’s emotional acuity.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for acuity
Cite this Entry
“Acuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acuity. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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acuity
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