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
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
First of all, people were put to shame, me and others out there that talked about Joe Biden's mental acuity.
—ABC News, 18 May 2025
In an interview, Joe Biden defended his mental acuity and blamed sexism, the pandemic and his struggle to provide short-term results for Trump’s return to power.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 9 May 2025
Former President Biden on Thursday denied accusations that his mental acuity took a slide toward the end of his presidency and called reporting that he was urged to drop out of the race over those concerns unfounded.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 8 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 25 May. 2025.
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acuity
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