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
And the perennial issue of access to the union’s health care plan has only become more acute for members, particularly older members, given the turbulence in Hollywood’s job market.
—
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
While the region’s homeless population faces many bottlenecks, the lack of detox beds is especially acute.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Rates of acute malnutrition and excess deaths rise.
—Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
The problem is also particularly acute for elderly users or people with speech impediments, especially as these systems are increasingly being deployed in critical areas like health care and government services.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acute
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
While the region’s homeless population faces many bottlenecks, the lack of detox beds is especially acute.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
Rates of acute malnutrition and excess deaths rise.
—Nurith Aizenman, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
The problem is also particularly acute for elderly users or people with speech impediments, especially as these systems are increasingly being deployed in critical areas like health care and government services.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
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This includes women with estrogen sensitive breast or uterine cancer, and women who are at high risk for or have had a heart attack, stroke, blood clot, or pulmonary embolism.—
Allison Aubrey,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
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In insulin resistance, the body's cells become less sensitive to insulin, which leads to higher blood sugar levels.—
Leigh Weddle,
Verywell Health,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Singing this material with players who improvise — solos changing, every version being a little different — taught me about that urgent live-ensemble space where everyone’s living and dying by the next player onstage.—
Shirley Halperin,
Rolling Stone,
5 Nov. 2025
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This urgent political thriller about Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh opened the 2025 Venice International Film Festival before moving on to Telluride, Toronto, New York and London.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Gas and dust fall into a rotating disk around the black hole, and as the debris spirals more rapidly, it becomes superheated, releasing intense radiation.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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True Ipomea batatas has bright orange flesh (although modern varieties have much more intense colors than older forms), occasionally white and rarely purple.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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His keen playful writing combines magical realism, genre-busting humor, literary zip—and there are few people better suited to adapting Wilder than Ethan Lipton.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Zoo Miami also boasts Ron Magill, whose Walk on the Wild events featuring educational segments, animal encounters and keen eye for photography continue to draw audiences.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Between 2022 and 2023, a team from Arkeologerna conducted an intensive investigation in the southernmost area of the former city.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
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The orbiters are expected to linger in a holding pattern before heading for Mars next year when the red planet is better aligned for a less fuel-intensive journey.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Green was quick to point out that every team that has won a championship featured a strong defense.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
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Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In intra-party diplo-speak, that was about as fierce a burn as can come from the party’s central committee.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Nov. 2025
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The city’s fierce weather pattern is fueled by the same Arctic air mass expected to sweep through the eastern two-thirds of the US this week.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In Hyderabad, the jump was even sharper, rising from 8 leadership roles in 2024 to 42 year to date.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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The Southeast could also briefly experience blustery winds and a sharp cold snap, with frost or even a hard freeze reaching inland areas as far south as Georgia and the Carolinas by Tuesday morning.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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