1
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
be careful, as that knife is sharp enough to slice off a finger
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2
as in spicy
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor
that cheese is so sharp that its rank aroma can practically clear a room
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3
4
as in stylish
being in the latest or current fashion
wore a sharp suit to his first big job interview
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5
as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance
a television personality who's known as a sharp dresser
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6
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
I got chapped lips from sailing all day in that sharp wind
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7
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
sharp business practices that are being investigated by the state's consumer protection agency
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8
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a sharp customer who wasn't about to be taken in by that smooth-tongued salesman
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9
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind
any sharp student would have noticed the error immediately
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10
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
an unnecessarily sharp retort to a perfectly civil question
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11
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
you have sharp eyes
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12
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
a spell of unusually sharp weather for this time of year
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as in right
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference
be there at four o'clock sharp
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as in adept
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
the computer sharp that the rest of the staff turns to whenever their PCs act up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sharp
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 21 Sep. 2023
President Barack Obama agreed to sharp spending curbs that only recently expired.
—Matthew Brown, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023
Oliver Kay, New York Times, 14 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
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023
The 27-year-old didn’t come out sharp, allowing three hits, including an RBI single to Royce Lewis, in a 27-pitch first inning.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
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
Adjective
That included everything from off-center parts at Simone Rocha to sharp, contrasting textures at KNWLS.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 21 Sep. 2023
President Barack Obama agreed to sharp spending curbs that only recently expired.
—Matthew Brown, BostonGlobe.com, 9 May 2023
Adverb
At the same time, Jota’s death has brought certain things into sharp context, about how fragile life — and within that, something like a football career — can be.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 14 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
Noun
In 2021, prior to BTS temporarily splitting off into individual sectors while some members pursue solo projects and others complete their mandatory military service, Jung Kook spoke to Rolling Stone about keeping his skillset sharp across the board.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023
The 27-year-old didn’t come out sharp, allowing three hits, including an RBI single to Royce Lewis, in a 27-pitch first inning.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
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
-
Inside this keepsake case is an Earthy and complex blend of warm cedarwood, deep myrrh resin, and spicy clove.—
Dan Michel,
Robb Report,
7 Aug. 2025
-
This casserole has all the flavors of your favorite Buffalo wings—spicy chicken, lots of cheese, carrots, and celery.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Staple remover Some staplers also include some kind of staple remover or are bundled with a separate piece of hardware that features four pointed teeth for removing staples.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Aug. 2025
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Other Weapons: No sharp or pointed objects are allowed on costumes or accessories.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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It’s also made with real leather and looks more stylish and less industrial than other phone cases.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Finding studio apartment ideas that’ll work for you may require a bit of extra ingenuity, planning, and editing, but a stylish and functional end result is absolutely possible—and well worth the extra effort.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Architectural Digest,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Suddenly, a classic white T-shirt and jeans combo has become dynamic, interesting, and highly elegant.—
Paulina Berges,
Glamour,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Clad in stainless steel, the hall’s sweeping concave and convex forms are at once a frothy and elegant statement on Grand Avenue.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The socially biting comedy comes out at a time of political unrest in Argentina under Javier Milei’s presidency, a government marked by several funding cuts to culture.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
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No one mentioned the annoying swarms of tiny biting midges that plague Scotland’s west coast in the summer.—
Angus MacKinnon,
CNN Money,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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These emails are loaded with deceptive links that lead to malware infections, and the consequences can be severe.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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The Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and American Civil Liberties Union say the software companies push deceptive marketing practices, exploit fear, normalize invasion of privacy and erode trust.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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From supporting local zoning reforms to promoting smart federal investments, our goal is simple: expand access to homeownership.—
Collyn Wainwright,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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That’s where the real value is, and that’s what smart leadership looks like.—
Paul Getter,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Across a wide network, each unit can become intelligent by deploying state-of-the-art technologies and AI, but also by gaining easy access to insights from more successful locations.—
Andrei Danescu,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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The scaling hypothesis—the belief that bigger models will produce more intelligent outputs—seems to rest on the dubious belief that a system that has been fed enough information about the world will not have to deal with fuzziness.—
Meghan O’Gieblyn,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sharp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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