acuity
noun
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Do you have acuity or sensitivity?
Acuity is nearly synonymous with at least one sense of sensitivity, yet, as is so often the case with closely related words, there are subtle differences worth observing before you substitute one of these words for the other. Acuity does refer to a form of sensitivity, but it is most often applied to the perceptual senses (as in “visual acuity” or “auditory acuity”). It is also frequently used in reference to the intellect (as in “mental acuity”). Sensitivity has a broader range of meanings than acuity does, including “the capacity of being easily hurt.” It may be used of inanimate objects such as radios (“the sensitivity of the instruments was carefully calibrated”), a context in which acuity is unusual.
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Examples of acuity in a Sentence
Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Jan. 2025
Biden planned to challenge Trump in the 2024 presidential election, but withdrew in July following a disastrous debate performance that brought the 82-year-old Democrat’s mental acuity into question.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025
All this right-wing propaganda that his mental acuity has declined is wrong.
—NBC News, 5 Jan. 2025
These are teams that will test their defensive physicality and acuity.
—Jared Weiss, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near acuity
Cite this Entry
“Acuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acuity. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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acuity
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acuity
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