sharply

adverb

Definition of sharplynext
as in neatly
in a strikingly neat and trim manner sharply dressed groomsmen at a formal wedding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sharply It’s been swinging sharply recently and pinballed between $72 and $102 last month as hopes rose and fell that a deal in the war could allow oil tankers to freely exit the Middle East again and deliver crude worldwide. — Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Clashes escalated sharply in February when Afghan forces launched a raid into Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 If growth does rise sharply as a consequence of AI, interest rates may rise just as much or more, so the government would still have to deal with higher debt payments. — Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026 Yet Fed officials are sharply split over their next steps and inflation could tick higher in the coming months, particularly if fighting in the Middle East flares. — Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Brandon Bell | Getty Images Consumer prices rose in July — a reversal of the pullback in June — but showed inflation broadly moderating, even as energy remained sharply higher than a year ago. — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 Oil prices are essentially flat Wednesday but sharply higher this week with the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the global oil supply runs, effectively shut down as fighting in Iran continues. — Elaine Kurtenbach, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 This creates a variable operating expense that changes minute by minute and that often increases sharply over just a few weeks or months. — Ameya Kanitkar, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Charlotte stands out even within a state where foreclosures rose sharply. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharply
  1. neatly
  2. smartly
  3. carefully
Adverb
  • Today, this stand is named in honour of Wolves’ legendary goalscorer Steve Bull and dovetails neatly with the rest of an impressive venue that spent the past nine years in the Premier League.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Israeli soldiers then arrived in two vehicles and tore it down, but left the blue tarp canopy neatly folded on the ground rather than confiscating it.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of neatly
Adverb
  • These versatile and smartly designed space-saving solutions from the mid 20th century remain unrivaled today.
    — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026
  • President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer and the front office clearly felt the Cubs have a chance to make a run in the postseason and smartly bolstered the roster.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of smartly
Adverb
  • The crawl space had to do certain things, and the actor had to move in a certain way, so it was engineered pretty carefully.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 14 Aug. 2026
  • For smaller sections like the backsplash, carefully apply the sealer with an application brush, making sure to only get into the grout lines.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of carefully

Browse Nearby Words

sharping
sharply
sharpness
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Cite this Entry

“Sharply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharply. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sharply

Nglish: Translation of sharply for Spanish Speakers

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