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
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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
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Recent Examples of sharpness
Debate can become one way of doing that, especially in cultures where sharpness is mistaken for intelligence.
—
Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 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
The impression — built around Carlson’s rising incredulity and a jagged, brittle laugh — quickly spread online, earning praise for its sharpness and timing.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Smelling salts are thought to stimulate consciousness, a pick-me-up of sorts to boost vivacity and sharpness.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 May 2026
The border collie not only knows how to herd sheep, but also which sheep to herd with patience and which sheep need a bit more sharpness.
—Aditya Simha, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
Publix Sharp Cheddar Cheese Testers found this cheese to be more mild tasting than the others, with a subtle sharpness and savory taste.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
It's recommended to inspect the lawn mower blades before and after each use to check their sharpness and ensure there isn't any significant damage that needs to be addressed before use.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
But while Western knives tend to prioritize durability, many Japanese knife steels prioritize high carbon content for better sharpness and edge retention.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 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
The impression — built around Carlson’s rising incredulity and a jagged, brittle laugh — quickly spread online, earning praise for its sharpness and timing.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Smelling salts are thought to stimulate consciousness, a pick-me-up of sorts to boost vivacity and sharpness.
—Jason Jones, New York Times, 15 May 2026
The border collie not only knows how to herd sheep, but also which sheep to herd with patience and which sheep need a bit more sharpness.
—Aditya Simha, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
Publix Sharp Cheddar Cheese Testers found this cheese to be more mild tasting than the others, with a subtle sharpness and savory taste.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 6 May 2026
It's recommended to inspect the lawn mower blades before and after each use to check their sharpness and ensure there isn't any significant damage that needs to be addressed before use.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
But while Western knives tend to prioritize durability, many Japanese knife steels prioritize high carbon content for better sharpness and edge retention.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpness
Noun
-
Find out how to beat boredom and bitterness while holding onto your job, with tips on how to build your next chapter, from career coach Cynthia Young.—
Courtney Connley-Hampton,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
There was so much discontent, resentment, and bitterness concerning Mae and Lena’s biological father.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Trade drab colors with 44 percent off floral prints, and bulky hoodies for something a little more lightweight to beat those nightly chills and airplane cabin temperatures—this one by Faherty is 25 percent off for a limited time.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
-
Specializing in creative lattes like brown suga baby (brown sugar, toffee nut, coconut, white chocolate, espresso, steamed milk) and lavender and chill (lavender, vanilla, espresso, steamed milk), Black Coffee opened in the Vivian apartment complex in 2024.—
Kate Williams,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Tulsi Gabbard, who on May 22 announced her resignation as director of national intelligence, is expected to be at the Camp David meeting.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
27 May 2026
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And in a business where net margins routinely run below 5%, that intelligence, and every extra milkshake sold, adds up fast.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Louisa Loo, Lombard Odier’s head of wealth planning for Asia, said many wealthy Asian families continue to delay succession discussions because of cultural sensitivities and a lack of urgency.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
My own sensitivity to jealousy began early.—
Meehika Barua,
Time,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The mattress on the bed was a little short and my bare feet hung off the edge, beyond the light white sheet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
All that was left of the snow was shoveled into melting mounds at the edges of intersections and crosswalks.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Without getting into spoilers, her one-and-done appearance in Episode 5 presents the perfect opportunity for the more-than-capable Meester to match wits with Bell’s judgmental Joanna, only to strand the actor with boring, obvious jokes and saddle her with a feeble resolution.—
Hugh Hart,
IndieWire,
23 May 2026
-
Collet-Serra directed and executive produced the film that focused on Egerton as an inexperienced TSA agent who ends up in a battle of wits with a mysterious traveler (Bateman) after the stranger blackmails him into allowing a dangerous package onto a flight on Christmas Eve.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
This can occur with or without skin markings, which may be mistaken for seemingly benign culprits like bug bites or an allergic reaction.—
Alyssa Sparacino,
Glamour,
29 May 2026
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Guests celebrating Giant included American Vogue Editor Chloe Malle as well as theater producers Tom Kirhady, Lucas McMahon, and Greg Nobile, who sipped on wine and champagne and dined on light bites whilst mingling and talking Tony prospects.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Breslow offered some insight into that deal and his process with trades more generally.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
The qualitative research conducted reveals emerging insights about the gap between dominant narratives and the stories Black women want and need to see.—
Dominique Fluker,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharpness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpness. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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