sharpness

noun

Definition of sharpnessnext
1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality he found that the bland crackers helped cut the sharpness of the cheese

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness dress warmly; there's a bit of sharpness in the air today

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters possesses a political sharpness that most campaign managers would envy

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4
as in sensitivity
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences possesses the proverbial sharpness of an eagle's eye

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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 sharpness Almost a decade later in its Broadway debut, it’s lost none of that, and White’s production — perhaps inevitably given the arc of those passing years — adds sharpness to its cruelties and weight to its grief. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026 Butchering an animal, removing its skin and processing its meat could each require a different balance of sharpness, precision and durability. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026 After showing signs of sharpness Monday in Detroit, Ryan never settled in Sunday, and Cleveland took advantage. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Beavis and Butt-Head function as a note-perfect satire of teenage confidence and idiocy, but the sharpness of the writing has always belied the bottom-of-the-barrel intellect of its title characters. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026 Bars of steel are fused together like a sandwich, heat-treated and tempered for durability and sharpness, and then ground down, polished, etched, and honed. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 No need to worry about adding structure to your outfit; the combination of baggy jeans and the sharpness of your heels will naturally create a balanced uniform. — India Roby, Glamour, 31 Aug. 2026 As a result, their image sharpness is quite similar, but the Roman telescope boasts a significantly larger camera and field of view. — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Even the least expensive styles of cheddar are more than capable of reinforcing a béchamel with assertive sharpness and creamy body. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpness
  1. bitterness
  2. chill
  3. intelligence
  4. sensitivity
  5. edge
  6. chilliness
  7. wit
  8. bite
Noun
  • Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity notes, others for a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter flavor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Arugula’s natural bitterness kicks off digestion before the first bite, cueing saliva, stomach acid and digestive enzymes that help the body prepare to break down a meal.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • The sudden sense of isolation and the threat represented by the low-Hz will send a chill up your spine.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • After six days, 57% of study participants who had VYD2311 injected into the muscle of their upper arm reported headaches, chills, fatigue or pain at the injection site — the typical side effects associated with vaccinations.
    — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said analysts from Ukraine's intelligence services, the General Staff and the Defense Ministry had assessed the strikes' effects.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • RoboParty is also expanding PartyOS to cover areas including humanoid locomotion, perception, whole-body manipulation and autonomous robot intelligence.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of intelligence
Noun
  • Hotels increasingly use signature scents to shape their brands, but guests with asthma or chemical sensitivities say those fragrances can trigger headaches and other problems.
    — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Burlington has also taken steps to reduce its weather sensitivity, including strengthening its home products assortments.
    — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensitivity
Noun
  • To continue to compete at the cutting edge, OpenAI needs to keep raising cash.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The quick short corner surprised Greenville (6-16-5), and Barea hit the edge of the 18-yard box before lifting a cross to the far post.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Or that Penélope Cruz’s sultry chilliness would jibe with either her male counterparts or Wilde’s diary-of-a-mad-housewife interpretation of a brittle, eager-to-impress woman brimming with creative frustration.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Definition of chilliness
Noun
  • Inextricable to Long’s art, though, is a self-awareness and acerbic wit that elevates the narrative and reminds us that humor is integral to survival, too.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • One of them was Maggie Bieritz, one of those people who radiates joy and wit.
    — Heidi Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of wit
Noun
  • Decadently delicious is the Champagne Bar, where Ruinart blanc de blancs gives way to Dom Pérignon as small bites from oysters with Champagne foam to potato purée with white truffle and egg yolk arrive before you.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Partita takes a poem that vibrates with political energy and domesticates it, sapping this very famous verse of its revolutionary bite.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of bite

Browse Nearby Words

sharply
sharpness
sharps
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Cite this Entry

“Sharpness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpness. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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