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
Researchers suggest that this might be linked to their acute circadian attunement to their environment.
—
Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The shutdown’s effects are acute for government workers.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2025
In Florida, water temperatures for two to three months exceeded the highs that had caused mass bleaching in past years, the new study says, which sent many corals into acute heat shock and caused rapid tissue loss.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
The new approach delves into differentiation therapy, a treatment that makes acute promyelocytic leukemia highly treatable.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acute
Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
The shutdown’s effects are acute for government workers.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2025
In Florida, water temperatures for two to three months exceeded the highs that had caused mass bleaching in past years, the new study says, which sent many corals into acute heat shock and caused rapid tissue loss.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
The new approach delves into differentiation therapy, a treatment that makes acute promyelocytic leukemia highly treatable.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
-
However, people who are lactose intolerant or sensitive to dairy may experience discomfort.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The key to detecting them, then, wasn’t to simply build a detector sensitive enough to see each individual neutrino; that would be a practically impossible task.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The plot unfolds at the urgent but erratic pace of a life-altering business deal, as Bonitzer unfussily steers us through a series of small rooms as people scramble to determine the proper thing to do with Schiele’s painting.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
-
To Trump, of course, gutting the Civil Rights Act is likely to be a point of pride, enabling the government to focus on more urgent matters, such as protecting white students from the purportedly harmful effects of diversity-equity-and-inclusion programs.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The intense taste and smell can make this tonic hard to stomach.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Part of what spurred intense interest, according to sources, was the success of Weapons, Zach Cregger’s summer horror hit.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Although nothing is imminent, club sources say the hierarchy are keen to find a successor and have held talks with a number of candidates.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Shouse says that touring with Frehley was a chance to see the guitarist’s keen sense of humor up close.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Gómez took the 5-day trip to Mexico City as a brief respite before starting intensive training to care for Noah at his home in New York City.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
And the side hustle is time-intensive.—
Megan Sauer,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Need a hearty soup that's quick, tasty, and healthy this season?—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
30 Oct. 2025
-
This can be a quick way to improve your fiber intake without planning every meal.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The rebound in corporate profitability was largely helped by Beijing’s policies aimed at curtailing fierce price competition across industrial sectors, at a time when deflation in producer prices stretched into its third year.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The eyewall generally produces the fiercest winds and heaviest rainfall, according to Deanna Hence, a professor of climate, meteorology and atmospheric sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.—
NPR,
NPR,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In general, acting quickly is key since the pain can be sharp and overwhelming within the first few seconds.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The negligible homicide case is seen through the strongest of microscopes, bringing flashbacks of the backstory into sharp focus as questions about faith and the human psyche soon arise.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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