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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acute contrast with its synonyms?

The words keen and sharp are common synonyms of acute. While all three words mean "having or showing alert competence and clear understanding," acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.

an acute sense of style

In what contexts can keen take the place of acute?

The synonyms keen and acute are sometimes interchangeable, but keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.

a keen observer of the political scene

When could sharp be used to replace acute?

While in some cases nearly identical to acute, sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness.

sharp enough to spot a confidence game

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 acute Unfortunately, for many people, acute LBP doesn’t resolve and becomes a chronic issue. New Atlas, 6 Apr. 2025 By 1890, however, with medical literature reporting more than 400 cases of acute toxicity brought on by the drug, cocaine had lost its luster. Wade Davis, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2025 The next morning, March 28, the animals awoke to a new political reality: The world’s most powerful man had taken an acute interest in their place of lodging, the National Zoo. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 6 Apr. 2025 Some people have recurring sinusitis, four or more episodes of acute sinusitis in the same year.4 Share Some Treatments While some treatments are specific to each condition, the two share some options. Sarah Hudgens, Health, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
  • Cooling, calming, and tailor-made for sensitive skin, this mask drapes delicately across your face to deliver a serious hit of cica (Centella asiatica) and allantoin—soothing redness and dryness in minutes.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In late March, four Taiwanese soldiers, three of whom were part of a unit that provides security for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, were jailed for up to seven years after being convicted of selling pictures of sensitive information to China.
    Eryk Michael Smith, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This highlights the urgent need for tailored marketing support.
    Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The net result is a flurry of headlines and viral social media posts followed by an urgent platform update.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The missions became more intense as Japan's outlook grew more dire and the military showcased the sacrifice of the pilots to drum up patriotism and support for the war.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Next, the authors report that repressive techniques are often effective in suppressing protest in the short run but tend to make resistance more intense in the long term.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In footage shared with Newsweek by Ring, the super smart pooch can be seen quite literally knocking on the door with his paw, evidently keen to be let back into the house.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Cricket administrators in Seattle had also been keen, despite not yet having built the requisite infrastructure for the Orcas, the city’s MLC side.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Class-size mandates effectively compete with other investments, like hiring more mental health professionals or investing in intensive teacher training for the existing workforce.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • That could include chemical-intensive lab work like testing sea lions, killer whales and walruses from Alaska for environmental contaminants, Tolimieri said.
    Lisa Song, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This mower features a quick start system and a side discharge for efficient grass management.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Here’s how the playoff picture looks: Two quick takeaways here: Multiple seeds in the Western Conference were up for grabs entering yesterday’s games.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Battle of Okinawa lasted 82 days, with fierce fighting on land and sea.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The documentary follows the story of Ángel, a charismatic boy with fierce love for his Guarani roots and a vision for his Paraguayan hometown of Nanawa.
    Lise Pedersen, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • As part of that effort, Democrats are hoping to exploit the sharp GOP divisions over the value of Medicaid and how deeply Republicans should cut its funding.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Such a sharp rise in government bond yields over a period of weeks is relatively unusual.
    Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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