sharpness

noun

Definition of sharpnessnext
1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality he found that the bland crackers helped cut the sharpness of the cheese

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness dress warmly; there's a bit of sharpness in the air today

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters possesses a political sharpness that most campaign managers would envy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sensitivity
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences possesses the proverbial sharpness of an eagle's eye

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sharpness Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, 18, who is still regaining his sharpness after a hamstring injury, and Mikel Oyarzabal (four goals) are the key attacking threats. — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Increasing the mustard in the dressing imparts this salad with its traditional strong yellow hue and a sharpness complimented by the red onion and pickled jalapeño brine. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 July 2026 Another tool is Definition, which, like Lightroom’s Clarity slider, adds midtone contrast and edge sharpness. — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026 Most Tour riders, with the notable exception of Giro winner Vingegaard, rode the Tour Auvergne Rhône Alpes or Tour de Suisse in June to test their race sharpness before Le Tour. — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 29 June 2026 The custom algorithm then interprets how the sharpness of the edges and textures of the two images differs, converting the data into depth measurements in real time. — Shirl Leigh june 19, New Atlas, 19 June 2026 Their furniture and home objects tend to favor serenity over sharpness and the handmade over the hyperpolished. — Aditi Sharma, Architectural Digest, 13 June 2026 Near the end of the play, Majok’s script becomes, like Mann’s score, flatter and broader in its messaging, losing some of its sharpness of observation, and the humor that characterizes Kaysen’s memoir fades. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 June 2026 But constructing ever-bulkier hardware rapidly runs into physical and economic obstacles that limit the size of any single telescope and the sharpness of our cosmic views. — K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpness
  1. bitterness
  2. chill
  3. intelligence
  4. sensitivity
  5. edge
  6. chilliness
  7. wit
  8. bite
Noun
  • Mexican Americans have long risen up to defend ourselves and defy our haters, but there’s usually an underlying strain of bitterness and anger that kneecaps us at the worst possible moments.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Tens of thousands continue to come each year, yet no widespread anger or bitterness grows.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • The room, its walls expensively craquelure'd to resemble fractured eggshells, its pale taffeta curtains billowing in the chill English breeze, is more Hollywood boudoir than office.
    — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026
  • From versatile and lightweight linen jumpsuits to light sweaters that come in handy when there’s an unexpected chill in the air, the following items are essentials that can always be found in our suitcases.
    — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Bobbi Queen, a former senior fashion editor at WWD who was known for her intelligence, wit and sense of style, died Thursday at her New York apartment at the age of 84.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
  • Autonomy with human oversight Artificial intelligence handles much of CobraJet’s flight through an autonomous autopilot supported by electro-optical and infrared cameras.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Definition of intelligence
Noun
  • 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.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026
  • As the intuitive Moon enters your 7th House of Partnership, your sensitivity to commitments heightens and clear expectations matter more than charm.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2026
Definition of sensitivity
Noun
  • The Detroit pizza features the style’s signature crown of crispy cheese around the edges, and a blanket of brick cheese.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Both the scalloped edges and adorable blue gingham print made this a top pick for me.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Or that Penélope Cruz’s sultry chilliness would jibe with either her male counterparts or Wilde’s diary-of-a-mad-housewife interpretation of a brittle, eager-to-impress woman brimming with creative frustration.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Definition of chilliness
Noun
  • With wit and élan Amitav Ghosh explores India’s own reincarnation as a democracy, brilliant societies emerging from tangled layers of the postcolonial era.
    — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026
  • Armed with endless grit and razor-sharp wit, Esperanza is the backbone of the agency and the steady force keeping both Myron and clients in check.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 6 July 2026
Definition of wit
Noun
  • At a charge, guests may also book a cute Patina Osaka wagon, packed with chairs, cuddly blankets, bites, and drinks for a bucolic picnic in the park.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
  • The reception reportedly offered multiple bars and food stations, which featured bites such as sushi and Italian cuisine.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 6 July 2026
Definition of bite

Browse Nearby Words

sharply
sharpness
sharps
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sharpness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpness. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sharpness

Nglish: Translation of sharpness for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fulcrum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All