sharp 1 of 4

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as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin I got chapped lips from sailing all day in that sharp wind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind any sharp student would have noticed the error immediately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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sharp

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adverb

as in right
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference be there at four o'clock sharp

Synonyms & Similar Words

sharp

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noun

sharp

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verb

Synonym Chooser

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

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 sharp
Adjective
The world’s second-largest economy continues to face a range of challenges, from job insecurity among the younger generation to sharp downturns in the property sector, once a cornerstone of the country’s economic growth. Hassan Tayir, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025 The former president's endorsement process has evolved from haphazard to sharp and effective, rendering all other endorsements all but obsolete. Kaleigh Rogers, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2024
Adverb
The American University’s Miller-Idriss traces the earliest uses of popular fashion brands as political symbols to early 1990s Germany, which saw a sharp rise in far-right street movements and violence following the fall of the Berlin Wall and subsequent reunification. Steve Salter, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 Three waterjets connected to 2,000 hp MAN V-12s and a sharp, blade-like bow result in a top speed of 33 knots and cruising speed of 20 knots. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
Labubu dolls are a sharp-toothed, monster-like toy that have surged in popularity through TikTok. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 21 Aug. 2025 Offensive coordinator Kirby Moore has welcomed the push on both sides and has emphasized the competition has kept each quarterback sharp knowing the other is ready. Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
But surely a guy a sharp as Tenax will see a way to turn this bloodline to his advantage. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 18 July 2024 But without savers and gamblers to profit off of, the gains for sharps are limited. Dylan Matthews, Vox, 25 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for sharp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharp
Adjective
  • The staff is brisk, used to locals ordering with a shorthand as precise as Philly cheesesteak lingo, and the souvlaki itself is unlike anywhere else in Athens—simple, spicy, smoky, and closer to kebab than the standard style.
    Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Evans asked him to detail why, but Doncic, who was suffering from the heat of the spicy wings, just repeated the song’s title.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The heels retail for $540, and feature an almond, pointed-toe design with a slightly square tip.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Genshuo Slingback Chunky Heels As evidenced by Kidman, a pair of pointed-toe heels are the ultimate tool for elongating your legs while wearing airy jeans.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This simple yet stylish monogrammed jewelry dish—personalized with her initial—is the perfect spot for her everyday jewelry or little tchotchkes.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 13 Oct. 2025
  • In an age when celebrities rarely leave the house without the help of a stylist (and in an industry where everyone is fashionable, though few are truly stylish), Keaton’s approach was singular.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The home’s signatures, soaring inside spaces and elegant natural materials, are designed to match the spectacular vistas seen through towering floor-to-ceiling windows.
    Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 11 Oct. 2025
  • With its refined silhouette, subtle logo detailing, and classic colors—from black to a fall-ready burgundy—the elegant accessory can be dressed down for coffee runs and classed up for date nights.
    Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But usually the administration official doesn’t fight back in such a biting way.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Over nearly three decades, Baumbach has built a career chronicling families in crisis and artists at the crossroads, his films combining biting wit with an unflinching emotional honesty.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • State legislators and attorneys general should examine whether certain practices violate existing rules against unfair or deceptive trade practices.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Barrera plays Michelle, a deceptive character who will keep everyone guessing.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Most successful forgers were smart and creative people, and many of their forgeries were consummate, even ingenious.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
  • What to know about the 'smart wall' at the Arizona border.
    Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The latest entry, 2023's Galactic Civilizations IV, has the most sophisticated AI of the lot, making your allies and enemies feel more real, and more intelligent.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2025
  • That kind of emotionally intelligent way of working was not seen as one of the old Victoria’s Secret’s strong points.
    Evan Clark, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sharp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

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