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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 Studies have demonstrated that women are more susceptible than men to diminished blood flow during acute stress events, and our microvascular response to stress is associated with poorer health outcomes. Carmen Rios, Flow Space, 12 May 2025 By the time the often young, always hopeful singer steps in front of the judges, there’s already an acute sense of investment in their success. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025 According to scientists at the University of Southern California (USC), overuse of acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in US children. Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 9 May 2025 Since the start of the year, more than 10,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization. Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
  • Security clearance requirements limit the most sensitive jobs to U.S. citizens.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • Even benchmarks can be misleading, since outcomes are highly sensitive to the types of tasks included.
    Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • This category is broad and urgent—people are dealing with stress, sleep disorders, focus issues, and more.
    Tanya Benedicto Klich, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
  • Here's why and what happened CT officials issue urgent plea for help stopping ‘a plague’ in state waterways.
    Staff Reports, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Trump couldn't get the change included in his 2017 economic legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, amid an intense lobbying campaign from the industry and some GOP lawmakers to protect the break.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 19 May 2025
  • Yet the overall focus is on the utopian community orbiting around the intense figurehead.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump's administration is also keen to increase energy exports to India to address a U.S. trade deficit of well over $45 billion in 2024.
    Danish Manzoor Bhat, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • Gustavo Mejia, the Mandarina experiences manager who runs the operation, played 53 matches last year and hosted professional players as well as beginners keen to learn.
    Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Ryan Murphy has found his Kennedys after an intensive casting search for the first installment of his new FX anthology series, American Love Story.
    Meredith Kile, People.com, 13 May 2025
  • The department conducts an annual review of each state, and a more intensive one that’s supposed to be completed roughly every five years.
    Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism Israeli Embassy shooting: See the scene Real quick All American Rejects singer explains what's up with viral pop-up shows.
    Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • The ship was to be the second major navy surface vessel revealed in quick succession by North Korea.
    Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Their love and fierce loyalty toward one another is a high point of Season 2.
    Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
  • Johnson’s selection came over the fierce opposition of some of the school’s staunchest supporters, who celebrate FAMU’s legacy of Black excellence, social mobility and cultural pride.
    Kate Payne, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • His equaliser against Leganes in March was a perfect example, with Bellingham sharpest to react when a shot cannoned off the crossbar.
    Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • McGraw’s lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to those living in Minto.
    Kyle Hopkins, ProPublica, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

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