1
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
be careful, as that knife is sharp enough to slice off a finger
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2
as in spicy
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor
that cheese is so sharp that its rank aroma can practically clear a room
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3
4
as in stylish
being in the latest or current fashion
wore a sharp suit to his first big job interview
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5
as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance
a television personality who's known as a sharp dresser
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6
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
I got chapped lips from sailing all day in that sharp wind
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7
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
sharp business practices that are being investigated by the state's consumer protection agency
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8
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a sharp customer who wasn't about to be taken in by that smooth-tongued salesman
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9
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind
any sharp student would have noticed the error immediately
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10
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
an unnecessarily sharp retort to a perfectly civil question
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11
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
you have sharp eyes
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12
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
a spell of unusually sharp weather for this time of year
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as in right
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference
be there at four o'clock sharp
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as in adept
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
the computer sharp that the rest of the staff turns to whenever their PCs act up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sharp
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 26 June 2025
The screen is bright and sharp enough, the speakers aren't bad, and the cameras are 1080p.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 25 June 2025
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023
The 27-year-old didn’t come out sharp, allowing three hits, including an RBI single to Royce Lewis, in a 27-pitch first inning.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
But a reminder — the sharps were on the Eagles last year.
—Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
Matthew Brown, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023
That could require Republicans to identify even steeper reductions, perhaps totaling $16 trillion, in a move that could expose the party to sharp political attacks.
—Tony Romm, Jeff Stein and Marianna Sotomayor, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sharp
Adjective
Yet beneath the weight of its own virality lies a sharp examination of power, perception, and the ethical boundaries of autobiographical storytelling.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 26 June 2025
The screen is bright and sharp enough, the speakers aren't bad, and the cameras are 1080p.
—Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 25 June 2025
Adverb
In 2021, prior to BTS temporarily splitting off into individual sectors while some members pursue solo projects and others complete their mandatory military service, Jung Kook spoke to Rolling Stone about keeping his skillset sharp across the board.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023
The 27-year-old didn’t come out sharp, allowing three hits, including an RBI single to Royce Lewis, in a 27-pitch first inning.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
Noun
Liquids, needles or sharps cannot be accepted — only pills or patches.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
But a reminder — the sharps were on the Eagles last year.
—Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
Verb
President Barack Obama agreed to sharp spending curbs that only recently expired.
—Matthew Brown, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023
That could require Republicans to identify even steeper reductions, perhaps totaling $16 trillion, in a move that could expose the party to sharp political attacks.
—Tony Romm, Jeff Stein and Marianna Sotomayor, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sharp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharp
Adjective
-
Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool across seven days from the end of November looks particularly spicy.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
-
The health benefits of spicy food could not have been further from my mind.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
On an otherwise comfortably mild day in Westminster, Richard Scudamore was getting, if not a grilling, then at least some pointed questioning.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
Last Monday night, after Smith’s confrontation with Lee, a senior member of her staff sent a pointed message to Lee’s office.—
Joey Cappelletti,
Twin Cities,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Swap out that workmanlike case for something that’s more casual, more stylish, and—whisper it—more functional.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
25 June 2025
-
These roomy parachute cargo pants are functional but stylish and—especially for Tokyo, a city known for being a street fashion hub.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
House hunters are even willing to pay up to about $1,600 more for a kitchen with cabinets in the elegant green tone, according to Zillow's analysis.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
18 June 2025
-
Grace Karin Floral Maxi Sundress, $48 with Prime $60 $48 at Amazon This floral maxi sundress creates an elegant A-line silhouette that shoppers say looks beautiful on a wide range of figures and heights.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
As always, Danan’s voice is hysterically funny, her characters’ exhibiting a wry and biting sense of humor.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
19 May 2025
-
Fey’s writing usually has a reputation of being more on the biting or sardonic side, but The Four Seasons trades out the eye rolls for loving looks (mostly).—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the suit, filed Friday, Newsom says that Fox News had used deceptive edits to claim that the governor had lied in saying that Trump had not called him about deploying National Guard troops during the L.A. protests.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
27 June 2025
-
Florida is leading the way in what can become a national movement to crack down on hospitals’ deceptive and unfair billing practices.—
Cynthia A. Fisher,
Sun Sentinel,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Hundreds of years after mankind is wiped out, a smart buoy (Kristen Stewart) turns on and strikes up a friendship with the last satellite (Steven Yeun) launched into space.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 June 2025
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Right now, Meta pretty much owns the smart glasses space and these specs could help cement that leadership.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
Adjective
-
Celebrate intelligent risk-taking, not just polished outcomes.—
Bill Fischer,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
Lucy’s colleagues refer to men like him—tall, handsome, in finance, intelligent, urbane—as unicorns.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sharp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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