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
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Recent Examples of sharp
Adjective
And with its peaks and sharp angles, the home could morph from architectural wonder in the daylight to something more sinister in the shadows of the night.—
Juliet Izon,
Architectural Digest,
2 Oct. 2026 On-demand deep scans for infrastructure The initial pictures aren’t sharp yet.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Baraka, the sharp-toothed mutant from the games.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026 Dinosaur fans know that late Cretaceous-era waters were ruled by sharp-toothed sharks and sea reptiles known as mosasaurs and plesiosaurs.—CBS News,
24 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
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 pointed-toe pumps feature a square crystal buckle encased in a gunmetal frame.
—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2026
The carrier is in the middle of an unusually pointed status-match campaign to woo travelers who have earned a spot in elite frequent flyer tiers with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines by offering similar treatment at United.
The shoe choice is also in character for Parker, whose real-life wardrobe has long been closely associated with stylish and luxury footwear.
—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2026
These exist in both the structures of her music and the fantastical world building achieved through presenting herself as a stylish equine named Stella Stallion that exists in a natural wonderland world that’s like if Lisa Frank met Planet Earth.
The elegant and spacious suites feature terraces with sun loungers and panoramic ocean views.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Oct. 2026
Working with the local firm Dvira Interiors, the owners turned the 12,000-square-foot residence into an elegant home that takes advantage of refined touches like ornate decorative moldings and brushed bronze and satin gold fixtures.
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.
In past elections, deceptive political robocalls have resulted in significant fines associated with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the federal law at the center of the petition.
—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Oct. 2026
The film chronicled Gortner’s youth as a Pentecostal preacher in the American South and exposed the deceptive practices used to bilk believers out of their money.
There will always be smart people, tech people, who don't have the world's best interests in mind.
—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Oct. 2026
And now there is Trudie’s Tavern, which opened this past summer in Carroll Gardens, a smart little restaurant that’s the most ambitious, and the most accomplished, of the three.
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