Synonyms for sharp

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  1. Having a keen edge

    acute, edged, keen, keen-edged, razor-edged, sharpened, ground fine, honed, honed to razor sharpness, razor-sharp, sharp-edged, fine, cutting, knifelike, knife-edged.

    Antonyms dull*, unsharpened, blunt.

  2. Having a keen point

    pointed, keen, sharp-pointed, spiked, spiky, peaked, needle-pointed, keen, fine, salient, spiny, thorny, prickly, barbed, needlelike, briery, stinging, sharp as a needle, pronged, tapered, tapering, horned, unguiculate, acuate, acuminate, aculeate, muricate, aciculate, aciculated, aciculiform.

  3. Having a keen mind

    clever, astute, bright; see intelligent 1.

  4. Having the ability to wound with words

    caustic, biting, acrimonious; see sarcastic.

  5. Not quite honest or honorable

    crafty, designing, underhand; see sly 1.

  6. Distinct

    audible, visible, explicit; see clear 2, definite 2, obvious 1.

  7. Vigilant

    attentive, watchful, close; see observant 1, 2.

  8. Intense

    cutting, biting, piercing; see intense.

  9. Vigorous

    brisk, energetic, lively; see active 2.

  10. *Excellent

    fine, distinctive, first-class; see excellent.

  11. *Stylish

    dressy, chic, in style; see fashionable.

sharp and keen both apply to that which is cutting, biting, incisive, or piercing, as because of a fine edge, but sharp more often implies a harsh cutting quality a sharp pain, tongue, flavor, etc. and keen often suggests a pleasantly biting or stimulating quality keen wit, delight, etc. or a marked enthusiasm or intensity a keen student; acute literally implies sharp-pointedness and figuratively suggests a penetrating or poignant quality acute hearing, distress, etc. and often connotes suddenness and severity an acute heart attack

See sharp in Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus II


adjective
  1. Having a fine edge, as for cutting:

    keen1. See sharp
  2. Having an end that tapers to a point:

    acicular, aciculate, aciculated, acuminate, acute, cuspate, cuspated, cuspidate, cuspidated, mucronate, pointed, pointy. See sharp
  3. Clearly defined; not ambiguous:

    clear, distinct, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable. See clear
  4. Mentally quick and original:

    alert, bright, clever, intelligent, keen1, quick, quick-witted, sharp-witted, smart. Idiom: smart as a whip. See ability
  5. Possessing or displaying perceptions of great accuracy and sensitivity:

    acute, incisive, keen1, penetrating, perceptive, probing, sensitive, trenchant. See careful, sharp
  6. Deceitfully clever:

    artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, guileful, scheming, sly, tricky, wily. See ability, honest, means
  7. So sharp as to cause mental pain:

    acerbic, acid, acidic, acrid, astringent, biting, caustic, corrosive, cutting, mordacious, mordant, pungent, scathing, slashing, stinging, trenchant, truculent, vitriolic. See attack, respect
  8. Marked by severity or intensity:

    acute, gnawing, knifelike, lancinating, piercing, shooting, stabbing. See big
  9. Affecting the organs of taste or smell with a strong and often harsh sensation:

    piquant, pungent, spicy, zesty. (Archaic) poignant. See smells, taste
  10. (Informal)

    Being or in accordance with the current fashion:

    à la mode, chic, dashing, fashionable, mod, modish, posh, smart, stylish, swank, swanky, trig. (Informal) classy, in, snappy, swish, tony, trendy. (Slang) with-it. Idioms: all the rage, up to the minute. See style, usual

See sharp in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Synonyms

sharp keen 1acute 

These adjectives all apply literally to fine edges, points, or tips. Figuratively they indicate mental alertness and clarity of comprehension. Sharp suggests quickness and astuteness: “a young man of sharp and active intellect” (John Henry Newman).
Keen implies clear-headedness and acuity: a journalist with a keen mind and quick wits.
Acute suggests penetrating perception or discernment: an acute observer of national politics.

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