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
-
The examples of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where life after revolution is replete with bitterness and recrimination, are profoundly discouraging.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Blessed with tender skins and jammy interiors, fresh figs can offset the tang of tomatoes and bitterness of salad greens.—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In Houston, home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities stateside, second- and third-generation cooks embrace tradition and experimentation with equal enthusiasm.—
Bao Ong,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
That enthusiasm has translated into higher-than-expected demand for the handheld, forcing Lenovo to cancel some preorders.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Furthermore, the ability to operate robotic explorers and harvesting/processing machines at solar system distances by combining quantum communications with AI-level on-site intelligence will enable us to go anywhere, in physical or electronic form.—
Rick Tumlinson,
Space.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Damien Symon, an open-source intelligence analyst, said on the social media platform X that India had declared a no-fly zone over the Bay of Bengal for a likely missile test—conducted from a northeastern island—effective Wednesday through Thursday.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The rodents rarely carry rabies, though squirrel bites have been linked to the transmission of certain diseases to humans.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Mosquito bites can cause a range of reactions, from mild redness and itching to blisters and bruise-like dark spots, depending on the person’s sensitivity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The first game famously took thirst-trap renditions of the Greek pantheon and imbued each figure with an insane amount of charm.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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Clutch the Bald Eagle possesses an unquenchable thirst for adventure, soaring across the United States and embracing every culture, game and moment with boundless curiosity and optimism.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In fact, early reviews have consistently brought up the film's humor and wit, and that feedback has also made its way to the cast.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
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The album also holds moments of his signature wit and humor.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Other reasons to seek additional care can include continued irritation, watering, burning, eye pain, mucus discharge, sensitivity to light, reduced vision and any flaking, discharge or sores on the eye or eyelid.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Pose was groundbreaking in many ways, but the FX drama deserves credit for being one of very few shows to depict the HIV-positive experience with sensitivity and a sense of dignity.—
James Factora,
Them.,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The fear of a man with a single foot over a cliff edge.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
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The Lexington community, still reeling from a 5-year-old’s death in a home explosion five months ago, is on edge after gas lines continue to get hit by companies installing fiber optic cables.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keenness. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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