EN

Synonyms for acuteness

  • noun

Most common

sharpness acumen acuity keenness

All synonyms

Noun

1. Keenness — shrewdness, quickness of mind

keenness, sharpness, acumen, acuity, perspicacity, sagacity, shrewdness, intensity, severity, subtlety, discernment, quickness, ingenuity, brightness, penetration, astuteness, wit, cleverness

Antonyms

obtuseness

All antonyms of acuteness →

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    Shrewdness, quickness of mind.

Forms

Plural
acutenesses → keennesses, sharpnesses, acumens, acuities…

Choose the right word

Acuteness, Sharpness, Insight, Penetration or Acumen?

Sharpness, acuteness, and insight, however keen, and penetration, however deep, fall short of the meaning of acumen, which implies also ability to use these qualities to advantage.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • sharpness I enchanted my sword with Sharpness II.
  • acumen It is obvious to me that he has no political acumen at all.
  • acuity The optometrist measures the patient's visual acuity.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
acutenessfalling
sharpnesssteady
acumensteady
acuitysteady
keennesssteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters
wit1
6 letters
acumen3, acuity4
8 letters
severity4, subtlety3, keenness, sagacity
9 letters
intensity4, ingenuity5, sharpness2, quickness2
10 letters
brightness2, cleverness3, shrewdness2, astuteness3
11 letters
penetration4, discernment3
12 letters
perspicacity

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (acumen3 = 3 syllables).