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
Housing and homelessness is another key issue in Los Angeles, with voters expressing a keenness for it to be tackled.
—
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
9 June 2026
Barcelona and Bayern’s keenness to acquire him underlines both the paucity of the top-level winger market, as well as his own unique characteristics.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
The keenness of my letdown was dismaying.
—
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
The talks signal keenness by both countries to maintain regular communication, The Wall Street Journal said.
—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Tiago Ventura,
Time,
9 June 2026
Barcelona and Bayern’s keenness to acquire him underlines both the paucity of the top-level winger market, as well as his own unique characteristics.
—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
The keenness of my letdown was dismaying.
—
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
The talks signal keenness by both countries to maintain regular communication, The Wall Street Journal said.
—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keenness
Noun
-
And after spending most of Sunday as the guy the crowd didn’t want to see close the deal, Clark didn’t respond with bitterness.
-
Crisp and refreshing, the drink’s grapefruit bitterness was softened by carbonation, giving Mexico’s national cocktail a lively upgrade.
Noun
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More than one million workers participate, but enthusiasm fades during the Great Depression, signaling that such ownership is fragile without worker protections.
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And when the winning starts, the enthusiasm can leap at record speed.
Noun
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The versatility, the intelligence, the playmaking and that ineffable ability to win — the Frenchman was a basketball romantic’s dream.
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As these systems begin to mirror and amplify human intelligence, agency, and even our flaws, the stakes become existential.
Noun
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Raising this concern to the funeral director is a great option as that person may have encountered a similar situation and be fully prepared to help walk the family through it with sensitivity to the needs of all involved.
-
In addition to tilt and pressure sensitivity, the Apple Pencil Pro adds squeeze and delete functions to the palette, along with a new barrel-roll gesture and haptic vibrational feedback.
Noun
-
That first bite delivers the crispy outside with a soft chew of rice, followed by the hot dog.
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Opening to the public June 29, Level 99 also serves a full menu of bites, cocktails and beers and features the work of 23 visual artists from across the world.
Noun
-
Passionate about all things food and beverage, newness in flavor and technique quench my thirst for information, but so does learning about the people and places behind these movements.
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His thirst would be sated in the second half.
Noun
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What happened to his barbed humanistic wit?
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With the same masterful blend of wit, insight, and empathy that made John Proctor a runaway hit, Born in the Dirt is a wickedly funny, vibrantly human new play about the meaning of art, community, and the complicated business of making something that lasts.
Noun
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The Americans came out energized in the second half and a Berhalter banger from the edge of the penalty area tied it up 2-2 in the 49th minute.
-
The Samurai Blue have the edge on shots, 2-1, but Sweden has the lone shot on target so far through 25 minutes.
Cite this Entry
“Keenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keenness. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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