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keenness

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of keenness

1 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 of keenness

acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bite, bitterness, edge, harshness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartness
Words Related to keenness

ginger, punch, spice, tang

raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol

cattiness, maliciousness

pointedness, thorniness
Near Antonyms of keenness

gentleness, kindliness
Antonyms of keenness

mildness, softness

2 urgent desire or interest

  • was looking forward to his birthday party with the keenness of a youngster
Synonyms of keenness

appetite, ardor, avidity, avidness, desirousness, eagerness, enthusiasm, excitement, hunger, impatience, lust, thirst
Words Related to keenness

alacrity, quickness

ambition, gusto, zest

appetence, appetency, fervency, passion, warmth, zeal

amenability, readiness, willingness
Near Antonyms of keenness

casualness, insouciance, nonchalance, unconcern

aloofness, detachment

impassivity, languidness, languor

halfheartedness, lukewarmness
Antonyms of keenness

apathy, indifference

3 exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters

  • had the financial keenness to know that the stock was overvalued
Synonyms of keenness

acumen, astuteness, caginess (also cageyness), canniness, clear-sightedness, foxiness, hardheadedness, intelligence, knowingness, sharpness, shrewdness, wit
Words Related to keenness

discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, percipience, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience, wisdom

artfulness, artifice, craft, craftiness, cunning, deviousness, guile, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness

brain(s), gray matter, intellect, reason, sense
Near Antonyms of keenness

artlessness, greenness, guilelessness, ingenuousness, innocence, naiveness, naïveté (also naivete), simplemindedness, simpleness, simplicity, unsophistication, unworldliness

brainlessness, density, doltishness, dopiness, dumbness, fatuity, foolishness, half-wittedness, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, senselessness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, vacuity, witlessness

4 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 of keenness

acuity, acuteness, delicacy, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sensitiveness, sensitivity, sharpness
Words Related to keenness

hyperacuity, hypersensitiveness, hypersensitivity, oversensitiveness, oversensitivity, supersensitivity

accuracy, exactitude, exactness, fineness

Learn More about keenness

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of keenness Nglish: Translation of keenness for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of keenness for Arabic speakers

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