Synonyms for sharpness
Most common
brightness acuity keenness acuteness acidity pungency edge fierceness
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Of intelligence
acuity, acuteness, keenness, brightness, intensity, acumen, quickness, wit, cleverness, astuteness, smartness, shrewdness, ingenuity, aptness, pointedness, subtlety, perspicacity, discernment, penetration
2. Pungency — pungency or acidity
pungency, acidity, sourness, tartness, poignancy, severity, violence, acrimony, piquancy, acridity, acridness, bitterness, acerbity, causticity
3. Of an image — distinctness, focus
Other
edge, fierceness, sarcasm, highness, shrillness, painfulness, asperity formal dated
Definitions
- n. 1
pungency or acidity.
- n. 2
distinctness, focus.
- n. 3
the cutting ability of an edge; keenness.
- n. 4
the fineness of the point a pointed object.
Forms
- Plural
- sharpnesses → acuities, acutenesses, keennesses, brightnesses…
Choose the right word
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. Acumen is sharpness to some purpose, and belongs to a mind that is comprehensive as well as keen.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- brightness Each night we spot the brightness in the distance.
- acuity The optometrist measures the patient's visual acuity.
- acidity The wine's acidity complemented the meal for Adriano.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| sharpness | steady | |
| brightness | steady | |
| acuity | steady | |
| keenness | steady | |
| acuteness | falling | |
| acidity | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- wit1
- 4 letters
- edge1, bite1
- 5 letters
- focus2
- 6 letters
- acumen3, acuity4
- 7 letters
- clarity3, sarcasm3, acidity4, aptness
- 8 letters
- violence3, severity4, highness2, subtlety3, acrimony4, keenness, sourness, tartness2, pungency, piquancy, asperity4, acerbity, acridity, raciness3
- 9 letters
- intensity4, ingenuity5, quickness2, poignancy3, smartness2, acuteness3, acridness
- 10 letters
- brightness2, bitterness3, cleverness3, fierceness, shrewdness2, astuteness3, shrillness, causticity
- 11 letters
- penetration4, discernment3, pointedness, painfulness
- 12 letters
- distinctness, perspicacity
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (focus2 = 2 syllables).