Definition of acutenext
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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acute Many suffered from acute radiation sickness as a result. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 26 Apr. 2026 Yadav said many sailors reported acute shortages of food and drinking water, with some vessels forced to ration supplies. ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026 The International Rescue Committee reported this week that around 77% of Gaza’s population is expected to face acute food insecurity this year. Matt Bradley, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026 The pressure is so acute that the Gulf is looking to build brand new trade routes, Semafor’s Saudi Arabia bureau chief wrote. Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
  • The ability to acquire land in fee simple is essential and, in many cases, the most effective and expedient way to protect sensitive landscapes, especially in rapidly developing areas.
    Susan Carr, Sun Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Eating large amounts or consuming them on an empty stomach may increase the likelihood of discomfort in sensitive individuals.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The situation sparked immediate on-the-ground reporting from journalists across the media spectrum who took to social media platforms to deliver urgent reports.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
  • The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said people have reported to them and the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center that they've been denied urgent and routine medical care over the past 10 months.
    Nick Lentz, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The area that would bear the president’s name has been subject to some of the most intense fighting of the modern age, with tens of thousands of Ukrainian and Russian troops killed in the Donbas over the past few years.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
  • What keeps it from feeling too intense or drying for combination skin is the cushion of tea tree leaf water, which helps calm inflammation.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead, keen-eyed visitors can spot resting harbor seals, shorebirds, and even a resident pair of bald eagles.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Early days, but during my visit many locals were keen to see the transformation, booking tables in the restaurant and bar for sunset views.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Data centers also have sharp demand spikes driven by computing-intensive tasks, such as training models.
    Mark Chediak, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Tilson Thomas’ New World Symphony, an ensemble and intensive three-year fellowship program for music school graduates to hone their craft, and its home at the New World Center in Miami Beach, are considered to be crown jewels in the Miami area’s art scene.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The reactive Moon opposes Mars, creating tension between quick reactions and thoughtful dialogue.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But, a host of hotels are just a quick zip from Malé.
    Shradha Shahani, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Along the way, there have been fast times, big doping busts and fierce corporate competition for the fastest humans in history.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Pre-marketing fight lands in court The fiercest pushback to Compass’s marketing strategy came from Zillow, the country’s largest home-search platform.
    Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Nikola Katic, a mountain of a defender, all elbows and sharp edges, was terrific before suffering a season-ending injury during Bosnia and Herzegovina’s World Cup qualification win over Italy.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Three candidates are vying to lead Chula Vista, San Diego County’s second-largest city, in the June primary, with the winner set to serve a four-year term atop a City Council that has been marked in recent years by sharp partisan division.
    Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

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