Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

acute

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of acute

1 able to sense slight impressions or differences
  • dogs, with their acute sense of smell, are used for finding toxic substances undetectable by humans
Synonyms of acute

delicate, fine, keen, perceptive, quick, sensitive, sharp
Words Related to acute

accurate, clear, discerning, good, piercing, precise, receptive, sensible, subtle

hair-trigger, hyperacute, hypersensitive, oversensitive, supersensitive
Near Antonyms of acute

bad, deadened, dimmed, dull, dulled, fading

dead, imperceptive, insensible, insensitive, numb

imprecise, inaccurate
2 needing immediate attention
  • famine caused by an acute shortage of grain
Synonyms of acute

burning, clamant, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperative, imperious, importunate, instant, necessitous, pressing, urgent
Words Related to acute

demanding, extreme, immediate, insistent, intense, overriding

crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death (also life-or-death), serious, severe, vital

dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstable
Near Antonyms of acute

incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant

nonthreatening, safe, stable
Antonyms of acute

noncritical, nonurgent
3 extreme in degree, power, or effect
  • experiencing acute distress over the misunderstanding with her best friend
Synonyms of acute

almighty, blistering, deep, dreadful, excruciating, explosive, exquisite, fearful, fearsome, ferocious, fierce, frightful, furious, ghastly, hard, heavy, heavy-duty, hellacious, intense, intensive, keen, profound, terrible, vehement, vicious, violent
Words Related to acute

accentuated, aggravated, concentrated, deepened

emphasized, enhanced, heightened, intensified, magnified

stressed

exhaustive, thorough

harsh, rigorous, severe
Near Antonyms of acute

feeble, weak

shallow, superficial

moderated, qualified

alleviated, eased, lightened, toned (down)

abated, decreased, diminished, lessened, reduced, subdued
Antonyms of acute

light, moderate, soft

Synonym Discussion of acute

acute, critical, crucial mean of uncertain outcome. acute stresses intensification of conditions leading to a culmination or breaking point.
    • an acute housing shortage
critical adds to acute implications of imminent change, of attendant suspense, and of decisiveness in the outcome.
    • the war has entered a critical phase
crucial suggests a dividing of the ways and often a test or trial involving the determination of a future course or direction.
    • a crucial vote

synonyms see in addition sharp

Learn More about acute

  1. See words that rhyme with acute Dictionary: Definition of acute Medical Dictionary: Definition of acute Spanish Central: Translation of acute Nglish: Translation of acute for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of acute for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up acute? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

bower

Listen to the pronounciation of bower

a shady place in a garden or forest

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. exonerate Barr summarizes Mueller report

  2. catamount Vermont enters the Round of 64

  3. mendacious, mendacity George Conway calls Trump a liar

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games