How does the adjective sharp contrast with its synonyms?
The words acute and keen are common synonyms of sharp. While all three words mean "having or showing alert competence and clear understanding," sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness.
sharp enough to spot a confidence game
Where would acute be a reasonable alternative to sharp?
The synonyms acute and sharp are sometimes interchangeable, but acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.
an acute sense of style
When is it sensible to use keen instead of sharp?
The words keen and sharp are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.
a keen observer of the political scene
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sharp
Adjective
Immigration officials point to a sharp increase in visas submitted under the Violence Against Women Act as a sign of possible fraud.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Aug. 2026 To double-check that the corn is ready, use a sharp knife to poke the kernels.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
30 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Baraka, the sharp-toothed mutant from the games.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026 Dinosaur fans know that late Cretaceous-era waters were ruled by sharp-toothed sharks and sea reptiles known as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.—CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Ratz saw Genthner moving up the right flank with her hand outstretched asking for a lead pass and quickly sent a sharp through ball far up the wing.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026 The lyrics are mostly nonsensical club chatter, but when Scott delivers them with Kesha-worthy sleaze, the attitude is stiletto-sharp.—
Lydia Wei,
Pitchfork,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Thompson was pretty brave for weaving his fingers with Meg's, considering how long and sharp her stiletto manicure is.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
17 July 2025 The Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Plain Toe Derby Shoes are $87 off and sharp enough for weddings or work trips.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sharp
Nightcap is a deliciously addictive gourmand, blending cozy vanilla and rich woods with sparkling ginger and cardamom for a spicy-sweet twist.
—
Allure Editors,
Allure,
31 Aug. 2026
The dish is spicy enough and not so thick with cream or flour and is a standout in the clam chowder world, according to Times reader Mary Ann Mollenkamp.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Aug. 2026
The shoes featured sharp pointed toes and jet black suede uppers.
—
Amina Ayoud,
Footwear News,
29 Aug. 2026
Gal Gadot aside, the most prominent version of Wonder Woman etched in our collective cultural memory—the one from the classic comic strips and the TV series starring Lynda Carter—features her pointed tiara with a central red star.
Yeah, just continue and figure out elegant ways to catch up with everyone, like catch up with what’s been happening in the last year.
—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Aug. 2026
The couple recently tied the knot in an elegant ceremony in Sicily at the historic Villa Valguarnera near Palermo on June 6, after officially marrying in London’s Marylebone Town Hall in advance.
The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
—
Hannah Giorgis Yohannes,
Vanity Fair,
13 July 2026
Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
Our hardware-agnostic capabilities expedite industrial adoption of Physical AI, while building the foundation that will support the next generation of intelligent robotic systems, including industrial humanoids.
—
John Koetsier,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2026
Xiaomi moves beyond Nvidia Xiaomi’s existing electric vehicles have relied on Nvidia hardware for their intelligent-driving systems.
—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Aug. 2026
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