1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
the keenness of the knife should tell you that it was sharpened recently a writer famous for the keenness of her wit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enthusiasm
urgent desire or interest
was looking forward to his birthday party with the keenness of a youngster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters
had the financial keenness to know that the stock was overvalued
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sensitiveness
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences
there's an enhanced keenness of hearing that young mothers seem to develop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of keenness
The talks signal keenness by both countries to maintain regular communication, The Wall Street Journal said.
—
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Farke himself commented on Gray’s keenness to be at the front of May’s title celebrations, despite having contributed only five minutes on the pitch for the senior side.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Farke himself commented on Gray’s keenness to be at the front of May’s title celebrations, despite having contributed only five minutes on the pitch for the senior side.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keenness
Noun
-
Coffee is particularly simpatico in chocolate recipes, where the coffee’s bitterness rounds out the chocolate flavor without overpowering it.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Chocolate in this range delivers intensity without bitterness and often carries subtle fruity or nutty notes, especially varieties sourced from South America.—
Amber Love Bond,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An hour in McIntyre’s company is a warm, convivial whirlwind of enthusiasm, jokes and anecdotes.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Yet, his enthusiasm is tempered by the valuable lessons from his past work in healthcare AI, reminding us of the importance of learning from each step of our journey.—
Sarwant Singh,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Piantedosi presided over a meeting of law enforcement and intelligence services on Tuesday to discuss security for the Games.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
As Moore’s Law continues to compound and intelligence moves decisively to the Edge, AI and Digital Twins are becoming foundational layers of the global economy.—
Phil Kafarakis,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
One bite of the soufflé is enough to shatter any notion chili has no place in a French restaurant.—
Claire Ballor
Staff Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In June 2022, Kang wrote a second post about Valerio that didn’t mention the bite.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There’s a thirst for community.—
Hannah Karp,
Billboard,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For decades, those in Region C have said more water is needed to quench the thirst population and business growth that has flocked to North Texas; meanwhile, Region D residents have pleaded for alternative options that wouldn’t displace them.—
Lana Ferguson,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Choose kindness over cleverness, warmth over wit, empathy over one-upmanship.—
Glenn Kurlander,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Scared out of their wits, Islanders fled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ginseng can impact platelet and clotting factors and affect insulin sensitivity.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
30 Jan. 2026
-
This form of beta-casein allegedly makes milk easier to digest for those with lactose sensitivities and richer-tasting than milk with the protein’s A1 variety.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Having explored the Mariana Trench, the summit of Everest, and the edge of space, Victor Vescovo knows what awe feels like in its most dramatic forms.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In short, the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war are a weird laboratory for modern warfare, which, against all odds, has given Ukraine a considerable tactical edge over its much larger adversary.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Keenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keenness. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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