Synonyms of acute

acute

adjective

ə-ˈkyüt 

1

as in sensitive

able to sense slight impressions or differences

dogs, with their acute sense of smell, are used for finding toxic substances undetectable by humans

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sensitive
• keen
• quick
• sharp
• delicate
• perceptive
• accurate
• fine
• subtle
• good
• precise
• piercing
• clear
• sensible
• discerning
• receptive
• hyperacute
• hypersensitive
• supersensitive
• oversensitive
• hair-trigger

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dull
• bad
• dulled
• fading
• insensitive
• dead
• insensible
• numb
• deadened
• dimmed
• inaccurate
• imperceptive
• imprecise

2

as in urgent

needing immediate attention

famine caused by an acute shortage of grain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• urgent
• intense
• emergent
• dire
• pressing
• critical
• compelling
• crying
• serious
• exigent
• imperative
• desperate
• immediate
• instant
• extreme
• imperious
• importunate
• burning
• severe
• clamant
• necessitous
• insistent
• overriding
• crucial
• dangerous
• hazardous
• life-and-death
• demanding
• life-or-death
• precarious
• perilous
• explosive
• unstable
• grave
• vital

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minor
• incidental
• negligible
• trivial
• unimportant
• noncritical
• nonurgent
• low-pressure
• stable
• safe
• nonthreatening

3

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect

experiencing acute distress over the misunderstanding with her best friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intense
• intensive
• fierce
• ferocious
• deep
• terrible
• profound
• heavy
• furious
• violent
• explosive
• vicious
• fearful
• exquisite
• dreadful
• excruciating
• blistering
• vehement
• frightful
• ghastly
• fearsome
• keen
• heavy-duty
• intensified
• aggravated
• severe
• hard
• heightened
• hellacious
• almighty
• harsh
• concentrated
• enhanced
• magnified
• stressed
• deepened
• accentuated
• exhaustive
• thorough
• rigorous
• emphasized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderate
• light
• weak
• soft
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• qualified
• decreased
• eased
• diminished
• toned (down)
• reduced
• moderated
• subdued
• alleviated
• lessened
• lightened
• abated

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acute contrast with its synonyms?

The words keen and sharp are common synonyms of acute. While all three words mean "having or showing alert competence and clear understanding," acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.

an acute sense of style

In what contexts can keen take the place of acute?

The synonyms keen and acute are sometimes interchangeable, but keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.

a keen observer of the political scene

When could sharp be used to replace acute?

While in some cases nearly identical to acute, sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness.

sharp enough to spot a confidence game

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of acute

In October 2006, Acutis fell ill and was diagnosed with acute leukemia. —Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025

Brain rot is an acute rejection of the intense pressures on young people to self-optimize. —Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025

In the following weeks, other healthy infants experienced acute respiratory failure or cardiac arrest without a clear medical cause, and two neonatologists made a judicial complaint that prompted a formal probe, per the outlet. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025

China’s auto industry suffers from acute overproduction. —Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025