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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Relevance
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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 chilly
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of sharp
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
The legislation faced sharp criticism at home and abroad, and thousands of Slovaks repeatedly took to the streets to protest the law.
—
ABC News,
4 July 2026
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Luke Kennard, who last month was competing for additional bench minutes as a sharp-shooting specialist, recognized the proverbial freedom as well.
—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
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
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sharp
Adjective
On his way to 25 points, Acuff made some sharp pick-and-roll reads, drilled some midrange pull-ups and drew a few and-1s.
—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
5 July 2026
The legislation faced sharp criticism at home and abroad, and thousands of Slovaks repeatedly took to the streets to protest the law.
—
ABC News,
4 July 2026
Adverb
Dinosaur fans know that late Cretaceous-era waters were ruled by sharp-toothed sharks and sea reptiles known as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.
—
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Luke Kennard, who last month was competing for additional bench minutes as a sharp-shooting specialist, recognized the proverbial freedom as well.
—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 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
Why would sharp-as-nails med school grads opt toward a presumably dead-end occupational route?
—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sharp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharp
Adjective
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Wild Arugula While standard arugula may be part of many reasonably priced salad mixes, the deliciously spicy, dainty wild arugula fetches premium prices of $4 to $6 for a 5-ounce bunch.
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Modales leans into cold-hardy grapes varieties like blaufränkisch, the spicy Austrian red variety that has become a favorite by-the-glass pour at Ox Bar.
Adjective
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Siamese, Ragdoll and Birman cats typically have a pointed coat.
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They can even be dressed up with a pair of slingback heels, especially a pointed-toe pair that gives the illusion of legs for days.
Adjective
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Even a 73-year-old shopper was impressed by its stylish, comfortable fit.
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The culotte-style stretchy shorts are equal parts comfortable and stylish, and the high-neck top can be worn either tucked-in or down and loose.
Adjective
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The result is an elegant estate where guests can have a refined Irish breakfast, enjoy afternoon tea or cocktails come sunset.
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Upano’s operatic scope and clean, elegant sentences really swept me off my feet.
Adjective
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So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods.
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Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.
Adjective
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Shadow fleet vessels disguise their identity and purpose through a broad range of deceptive activities, including spoofing their locations and destinations.
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The complaint alleged deceptive advertising and other misconduct.
Adjective
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Share a smart idea with a neighbor, then turn it into a clear message while your mind stays agile.
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The Knicks could, hypothetically, trade a starter to create space beneath the second apron to re-sign Robinson, but breaking up a starting five that just won a title is not a smart idea.
Adjective
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The robot staff behind the scenes Pudu's FlashBot will run an intelligent vending system, allowing guests to order drink deliveries by smartphone.
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His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous.
Cite this Entry
“Sharp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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