1
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
dogs, with their acute sense of smell, are used for finding toxic substances undetectable by humans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
famine caused by an acute shortage of grain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
experiencing acute distress over the misunderstanding with her best friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acute
For Black women, who often serve as both income earners and caregivers, wealth builders and legacy stewards, the impact is especially acute.
—
Jehan Crump‑gibson, Essence, 10 July 2025
The drop in attendance at the Science Museum, which was founded in 1907 and has been located on Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul since 1999, has been especially acute.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
The American West has an acute lack of affordable and attainable housing.
—Abe Streep, ProPublica, 8 July 2025
Legionnaires disease is a type of serious pneumonia that can cause respiratory failure, septic shock and acute kidney failure, the consent order stated.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for acute
Jehan Crump‑gibson, Essence, 10 July 2025
The drop in attendance at the Science Museum, which was founded in 1907 and has been located on Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul since 1999, has been especially acute.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
The American West has an acute lack of affordable and attainable housing.
—Abe Streep, ProPublica, 8 July 2025
Legionnaires disease is a type of serious pneumonia that can cause respiratory failure, septic shock and acute kidney failure, the consent order stated.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
-
The thundering crackles and sharp bangs of pyrotechnics can not only frighten dogs but also cause discomfort to their sensitive ears.—
Logan Holland,
People.com,
4 July 2025
-
This usually involves receiving a fake text, email or even a phone call designed to trick you into clicking a malicious link or sharing sensitive information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ra’s faith in cosmic travel put him at odds with other prominent African American figures of the period, who saw the space race as a distraction from the more urgent struggles of the civil rights era.—
Ekow Eshun
July 11,
Literary Hub,
11 July 2025
-
What's new is the urgent need to respond to a fundamentally different business environment that's more interconnected than ever before.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Early Friday morning, intense rain caused flash flooding across Texas Hill Country.—
Rebecca Angel Baer,
Southern Living,
6 July 2025
-
There were several safety cars during the race, along with changing conditions with periods of intense rain followed by a drying track.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
Adjective
-
Motherwell finished third in the Scottish Premier League that season, behind Celtic and Rangers, and while McGhee was keen not to lean too much on a ‘do it for Phil’ message, that clearly hung over the squad for the whole season.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Geopolitical tensions have made growth in China—its third largest market and 13% of total revenue—difficult and rival chipmakers are keen to erode its lead.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
An intensive moisturiser that delivers maximum hydration, Revision’s DermProtect Barrier Defense™ also replenishes natural lipids, and enhances moisture retention.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
The military would prefer to focus on managing ever-growing threats from satellites, an intensive effort that requires continual monitoring as other nations' increasingly sophisticated spacecraft maneuver from one orbit to another.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The swarm — hundreds of small earthquakes hitting the same area in quick succession — started around 1:30 a.m.—
Sarah Lynch Baldwin
July 9,
CBS News,
9 July 2025
-
Chicago police and City Hall officials were quick to note that the shooting was targeted and the victims didn’t live in the neighborhood.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
With so many players in the game, the competition is simultaneously fierce and toothless.—
Todd Fisher,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
-
Winds, too, were fierce, gusting up to 70 mph at the lakefront, according to the National Weather Service.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
The sharp grooves pull out small grass, while the round grooves go for larger, harder-to-grab grass.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 July 2025
-
The screen is bright and sharp enough, the speakers aren't bad, and the cameras are 1080p.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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