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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
famine caused by an acute shortage of grain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
experiencing acute distress over the misunderstanding with her best friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acute
The tension between these two ideas is acute, putting law enforcement and citizens on a potentially catastrophic collision course.
—
The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Portrayals of girls and women in conditions of acute hardship or distress are a common theme of the collection.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Jacquez’s story also bears similarities to that of 35-year-old Alex Taylor, a man with bipolar disorder and related schizoaffective disorder who, as The New York Times first reported, was shot to death by police after suffering an acute crisis after intensive ChatGPT use.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 21 Jan. 2026
Binge drinking places acute stress on the body and significantly increases the risk of injuries and other immediate harms.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acute
The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Portrayals of girls and women in conditions of acute hardship or distress are a common theme of the collection.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Jacquez’s story also bears similarities to that of 35-year-old Alex Taylor, a man with bipolar disorder and related schizoaffective disorder who, as The New York Times first reported, was shot to death by police after suffering an acute crisis after intensive ChatGPT use.
—Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 21 Jan. 2026
Binge drinking places acute stress on the body and significantly increases the risk of injuries and other immediate harms.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
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Still, a few things are worth keeping in mind, especially if your teen is more sensitive, anxious, or likely to shut down under pressure.—
Dorian Johnson,
Parents,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Infused with the same micro triple-lipid capsules—ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids—that replenish the skin barrier on contact, it’s specifically formulated for dry, sensitive skin.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Health officials in Gaza say tens of thousands of residents with urgent medical needs are seeking evacuation through Rafah, underscoring the pressure on the crossing even as access remains tightly controlled.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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Unable to work a traditional job and with a toddler to care for, money also was a constant concern for Franyelis, making her return to Venezuela all the more urgent.—
Maeva Bambuck,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This period of intense study laid the groundwork for what would later become known as the Korean New Wave.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Shares fell during his time in government but rebounded sharply in December, reaching a record high amid intense market interest in AI.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Global businesses have also long been keen to sell to China’s large consumer market, the second-largest in the world.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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Guardiola was always a stern taskmaster with Sane, never overly praising him and often reeling back giddy reporters keen to hype the German star.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The tech could have an outsized effect on knowledge workers by automating the repetitive, data-intensive cognitive tasks that typically define those white-collar roles.—
Tom Huddleston Jr.,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
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Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three, was shot earlier this month while sitting in her car, while Alex Pretti, an intensive-care nurse, was killed in a separate encounter just over two weeks later.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Financial reality is often presented as comfortable in an Instagram post, or a quick tweet where the reality of the artist is the commodity being sold.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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However, one quick look at what companies like Boston Dynamics has achieved with robots like the rather creepy dog-like ‘Spot,’ who herds sheep in New Zealand, and the possibilities seem endless.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Those funds are caught in a fierce battle over Democratic proposals, now backed by some Republicans, to impose limits on the behavior of the ICE agents whose aggressive tactics in Minneapolis have left protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti dead.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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Game director Cary Trzcinski made sure emotions did not boil over and lead to a melee, sticking his thick body and fierce game face into one brewing moment in the second half.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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At the same time, China has been trading sharp diplomatic warnings with Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would compel a military response from Tokyo, further underscoring how the issue is drawing in multiple regional and global powers.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
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The blue sky, the contrast of snow and dark winter trees and the sharp air just puts me right.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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