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
There’s no slicing and dicing without a sufficiently sharp edge.—Los Angeles Times,
24 Oct. 2026 General Daily Insight for October 23, 2026 Something comes into sharper focus today.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
23 Oct. 2026
Adverb
In this comic from 1950, published by Avon, Custer is sharp-jawed, golden-locked and the last of his men to die.—New York Times,
28 June 2026 Baraka, the sharp-toothed mutant from the games.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
Ratz saw Genthner moving up the right flank with her hand outstretched asking for a lead pass and quickly sent a sharp through ball far up the wing.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026 The lyrics are mostly nonsensical club chatter, but when Scott delivers them with Kesha-worthy sleaze, the attitude is stiletto-sharp.—
Lydia Wei,
Pitchfork,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Thompson was pretty brave for weaving his fingers with Meg's, considering how long and sharp her stiletto manicure is.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
17 July 2025 The Wolf & Shepherd Crossover Plain Toe Derby Shoes are $87 off and sharp enough for weddings or work trips.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sharp
The restaurant also makes its own salsas, including roja, verde and a spicier green variety.
—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Oct. 2026
The property collaborated with Nobu and the food is clean and delicious—unsurprisingly, lots of raw fish and produce like spicy microgreens and August-sweet tomatoes grown at Sensei’s hydroponic farm down the road.
The pointed-toe pumps are adorned with crystal embellishment on the vamp and the counter, which gave the pumps a whimsical and fairy-tale feel.
—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2026
The 11-track set finds the Scottish trio of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty turning a more pointed eye toward British identity and the country’s darker social realities.
DeMellier’s founder, Mireia Llusia-Lindh, tapped the residential architect Nicolas Schuybroek to create a space that felt like a stylish home with vintage furniture, photography and architecture books and original work by female artists.
—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2026
Specializing in a stylish suite of KD55 showerhead filters, the brand has recently been picked up by leading UK retailer Boots.
Her version is louder and more biting, but never at the sacrifice of the track’s spirit.
—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2026
In 2022, Lee County’s Mosquito Control District decided to try aiming radiation at mosquitoes instead, specifically the biting, disease-carrying kind — Aedes aegypti.
Craig was highly rated, and the plan to try to be more physical with Sammis’ pro-style attack in a league increasingly dominated by teams built in the trenches like Texas Tech, BYU and Utah seemed smart.
—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Oct. 2026
Having experienced the dial adjust the volume on its own while the case was in my pocket, a disable option seems smart.
Copy Citation
