ACUTELY Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

acutely

adverb

Definition of acutely

as in keenly

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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 acutely Nations like Mongolia, Bhutan, and Nepal are acutely aware of the danger, fearing that not capitulating on the Dalai Lama succession issue could open the door to broader Chinese territorial claims. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026 Virality, however, is not the same as long-term brand value, something ALO appears acutely aware of. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 My pressing concern is that athletes become more acutely aware of the overt and subtle effects of being tethered to smartphones and apps. — Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 1 July 2026 In those first days, the people closest to the disaster felt acutely the absence of any assistance from their own government. — Joshua Partlow, The Atlantic, 30 June 2026 Iran’s new leaders are acutely aware that Iranians remain restive and expect the government to ease their economic plight. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2026 Damage from the campaign has been felt most acutely in Crimea, the four regions Russia occupies in Ukraine, the areas that border Ukraine, and, perhaps most notably, Moscow. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 June 2026 Neusch was acutely aware of nerve-equivalent impulses reporting the beam penetrating the light armor, searing the bio-andy’s hip and thigh. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026 The column underscores scientific warnings that smoke from the warehouse, including fine particulate matter and combustion byproducts from refrigerants and solar panels, can acutely harm lungs and carry long-term cancer risks, especially for children, pregnant people and older adults. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for acutely

Adverb

But these two figures, created by one of our most keenly observant writers, deserve to be interpreted anew.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
The war in the Middle East has strained the global supply of Patriot interceptors — a shortage now felt keenly in Ukraine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 July 2026

Definition of keenly

Adverb

But the dramatic cut in drug production was also due in part to farmers being given alternative crops to the cultivation of opium poppies, De Croo said, noting that funding for such programs had been severely curtailed.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
However, local journalism's ability to cover these profound changes is severely declining, with a 75% drop in local reporting since the early 2000s.

— Shalin Jyotishi, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of severely

Adverb

Georgia, after establishing herself as a non-hands-washer last year (and doubling down over and over again), decided to sharply pivot to become a maven of cleanliness.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Each path promises the same payoff, consistent cold-water immersion for recovery, stress management and mental resilience, but the setup costs, maintenance demands and daily user experience diverge sharply.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026

Definition of sharply

Adverb

As Ethan, Stock was as perversely alienating as he was poignantly alienated.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
At the very least, the attacks have brought the war home even more poignantly for millions of Russians, shattering Putin’s narrative of the conflict as something that doesn’t affect the lives of ordinary people in his country.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026

Definition of poignantly

Adverb

Yet others — particularly those who identify as Jews through ethnic, cultural or family ties, rather than religion — feel less connected to Israel and judge its actions in the ongoing conflict more harshly.

— David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
The Street graded Meta’s capital expenditure intentions more harshly relative to its hyperscaler peers ( Amazon , Microsoft , and Alphabet ), as monetization of that spend would depend almost entirely on internal demand for compute.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 July 2026

Definition of harshly

Adverb

Chef Steven Pham is still simmering his signature Northern Vietnamese-style pho ga, which features a soul-piercingly clear broth, tender poached chicken, rice noodles, and a floating raft of fresh herbs.

— Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
The Towode Door Stop Alarm is a budget-friendly, highly effective safety tool that functions as a wedge door stop and a piercingly loud alarm when activated.

— Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026

Definition of piercingly

Adverb

The event was halted after an hour due to fears about her safety, which distressingly encapsulates a tension that the trans Mayan artist has navigated for years.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
The basic themes of Hearst’s life and the novels that dramatize it remain distressingly relevant.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 May 2026

Definition of distressingly

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“Acutely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acutely. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of acutely

adverb

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