keen 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkēn How to pronounce keen (audio)
Definition of keennext
1
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences pilots with especially keen eyesight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin the keen wind gave me chapped lips

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something lanced the boil with a keen scalpel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in quick
having or showing quickness of mind readers who were keen enough to realize that the writer was being satirical

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in excellent
of the very best kind that new digital camera sure is keen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest a keen hunger for fame and fortune in the fashion industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect movies gave him keen enjoyment like nothing else

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

keen

2 of 3

noun

as in wail
a crying out in grief the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

keen

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to howl
to make a long loud mournful sound mourners keening for the victims of the bombing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective keen contrast with its synonyms?

The words acute and sharp are common synonyms of keen. While all three words mean "having or showing alert competence and clear understanding," keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.

a keen observer of the political scene

In what contexts can acute take the place of keen?

The meanings of acute and keen largely overlap; however, acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.

an acute sense of style

When would sharp be a good substitute for keen?

While the synonyms sharp and keen are close in meaning, 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 keen
Adjective
During the interview, Portman opened up about her keen awareness of the challenges and heartbreak of fertility journeys. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 Tours of local towns, wine tastings, farm visits, and boat trips can all be arranged through the hotel and guests here are keen to soak up the spirit of the island as well as enjoy total relaxation. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
Noun
The keen-eyed among our readers will notice that the ROG glasses are largely the same inside and out as the Xreal One Pro, which cost $649. — New Atlas, 19 May 2026 The song finds Abstract continuing to explore the contours of indie and alternative rock, with a simmering lo-fi guitar riff that gives way to the uneasy keen of a synth. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023
Verb
Of course, Plant also used those keening high notes to express an appetite for destruction. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025 He’s been lauded for sounding like a vestige of another age — his supple, keening tenor the result of years of apprenticeship to the Pakistani artists Ustad Saami and Farida Khanum. — Emily Lordi Philip Cheung, New York Times, 10 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for keen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keen
  1. sensitive
  2. biting
  3. sharp
  4. quick
  5. excellent
  6. excited
  7. intense
  8. wail
Adjective
  • What to know about privacy Hospitals and doctors’ offices must follow codes of ethics and rules that protect sensitive patient health information and protect privacy, but AI is not bound by the same strict federal rules.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • State officials provided a version of the rolls but withheld sensitive personal information, citing privacy concerns.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 30 July 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
Definition of biting
Adjective
  • But the culprit behind Seattle’s sharp increase is energy – both gasoline and for the home.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But within the leadership, there are sharp differences over what the endgame should be.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of sharp
Adjective
  • Our waiter, Juan, was – as all servers at Papi Steak are – quick to illuminate the kaleidoscopic dish with a pocket flashlight, apparently for documentary purposes.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • But those numbers are improving at a quicker pace than math scores.
    — Samuel O’Neal July 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • Edoya, where brushes have been made by hand since 1718, is around the corner, and Nexpect, an excellent specialty coffee shop, is a short walk away.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • Namely stage 13 when the race split into pieces, Tom Pidcock climbed back up the GC, Pedersen had to make a desperate attempt to reach Philipsen up the road to defend green, and the excellent Mauro Schmid got the victory his talent deserves.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • This is because patients are increasingly excited to use wearables and other devices to gather more information and metrics regarding their own health.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • These very same donors, Eustis said, are the ones who feel most excited to be sitting among the citizenry in Central Park, watching the beauty of public art unfold in a joyous communal atmosphere.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Definition of excited
Adjective
  • His plan, scheduled for a vote at the Beach commission on Wednesday after two years of often-intense debate and revision, comes in the prosaic form of a technical zoning change.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Criticism from the political left was, predictably, swift and intense.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of intense
Noun
  • Mourners beat their chests rhythmically in the intense summer heat, the wails of women cutting through the noise as the body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was unveiled beneath a glass case at the Grand Mosalla.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • After a second of consideration, Naim slams the grate shut to the monster’s wails, and the audience’s relief.
    — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 19 June 2026
Definition of wail

Phrases Containing keen

Browse Nearby Words

keels (over)
keen
keened
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Keen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keen. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on keen

Nglish: Translation of keen for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All