Synonyms of keenness

keenness

noun

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

• bitterness
• bite
• edge
• acerbity
• acuteness
• poignancy
• sharpness
• severity
• acidity
• roughness
• poignance
• harshness
• pungency
• spice
• acridity
• asperity
• acrimony
• tartness
• severeness
• acridness
• acidness
• punch
• tang
• acrimoniousness
• shrillness
• virulence
• ginger
• pointedness
• vitriol
• maliciousness
• raucousness
• thorniness
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softness
• gentleness
• mildness
• kindliness

2

as in enthusiasm

urgent desire or interest

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• enthusiasm
• thirst
• appetite
• eagerness
• excitement
• hunger
• desirousness
• impatience
• ardor
• avidity
• lust
• passion
• ambition
• zeal
• avidness
• readiness
• quickness
• alacrity
• willingness
• zest
• warmth
• gusto
• fervency
• appetence
• appetency
• amenability

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indifference
• apathy
• nonchalance
• unconcern
• insouciance
• casualness
• detachment
• aloofness
• impassivity
• languor
• lukewarmness
• languidness
• halfheartedness

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

• intelligence
• wit
• insight
• acumen
• shrewdness
• astuteness
• intellect
• wisdom
• clear-sightedness
• canniness
• knowingness
• hardheadedness
• sense
• sharpness
• caginess
• sagacity
• perception
• perceptiveness
• perceptivity
• foxiness
• discernment
• reason
• percipience
• cunning
• sagaciousness
• subtlety
• wiliness
• artfulness
• sapience
• slyness
• deviousness
• guile
• subtleness
• slickness
• sneakiness
• craftiness
• gray matter
• sageness
• brain(s)
• craft
• artifice

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ingenuousness
• naïveté
• simplicity
• greenness
• guilelessness
• artlessness
• unworldliness
• innocence
• simplemindedness
• naiveness
• unsophistication
• simpleness
• slowness
• obtuseness
• density
• stupidity
• foolishness
• dumbness
• fatuity
• witlessness
• mindlessness
• senselessness
• vacuity
• stupidness
• oafishness
• brainlessness
• doltishness
• dopiness
• half-wittedness

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

• sensitiveness
• sensitivity
• perceptiveness
• perceptivity
• acuity
• acuteness
• accuracy
• sharpness
• delicacy
• hypersensitivity
• exactness
• supersensitivity
• hypersensitiveness
• exactitude
• fineness
• oversensitivity
• hyperacuity
• oversensitiveness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of keenness

The firm is busy scouting for companies positioned to benefit from the Pentagon’s keenness to boost defense spending and find new ways to pay for it. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

However, Jaissle’s stylistic footballing similarities and the German’s keenness for his deep-lying midfielders to be bold and capable of playing upfield swiftly, with precision, means Steur may have found continuity of sorts. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

And generally with these designers the matter of taste comes into play—be that Wun’s keenness for kitsch or Malhotra and Mishra’s indulgence. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 8 July 2026

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

The keenness of my letdown was dismaying. — Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026