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Keen synonyms

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sharp-witted
Clever, keen of intellect, swift of thought.
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  1. Clever, keen of intellect, swift of thought.
  2. Alternative form of sharp-witted.
  3. Having or showing keen intelligence or discernment; thinking quickly and effectively
pointed
Characterized by the use of a pointed crown, as in Gothic architecture:
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  1. Characterized by the use of a pointed crown, as in Gothic architecture:
  2. Sharp; cutting:
  3. (Comparable) Sharp, barbed; not dull.
edged
Referring to something that has a sharp planar surface
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  1. Referring to something that has a sharp planar surface
acute
Extremely sharp or severe; intense:
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  1. Extremely sharp or severe; intense:
  2. Having an acute angle:
  3. Narrowly pointed; sharp:
bright
Comparatively high on the scale of brightness:
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  1. Comparatively high on the scale of brightness:
  2. Full of promise and hope; auspicious:
  3. Happy; cheerful:
clever
Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful:
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  1. Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful:
  2. Handsome, convenient, nice, etc.
  3. Mentally quick and original; bright:
shrewd
Having or showing a clever awareness or resourcefulness, especially in practical matters.
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  1. Having or showing a clever awareness or resourcefulness, especially in practical matters.
  2. (Archaic) Keen; piercing; sharp
  3. Disposed to or marked by artful and cunning practices; tricky.
cutting
Injuring or capable of injuring the feelings of others:
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  1. Injuring or capable of injuring the feelings of others:
  2. Capable of or designed for incising, shearing, or severing:
  3. Sharply penetrating; piercing:
piercing
Trenchant; incisive:
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  1. Trenchant; incisive:
  2. Causing pain, especially because of cold:
  3. Keenly perceptive or intelligent:
biting
Relating to an animal or animals capable of biting, especially an insect.
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  1. Relating to an animal or animals capable of biting, especially an insect.
  2. Of or relating to insects and certain other animals that wound the skin with a sting, mouthparts, or fangs.
  3. Cutting; sharp
strong
Having force or rapidity of motion:
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  1. Having force or rapidity of motion:
  2. Clear and loud:
  3. Powerfully effective:
ardent
Displaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion; fervent:
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  1. Displaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion; fervent:
  2. Warm or intense in feeling; passionate
  3. Expressing or characterized by warmth of feeling; passionate:
interested
Having or showing curiosity, fascination, or concern:
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  1. Having or showing curiosity, fascination, or concern:
  2. Possessing a right, claim, or stake:
  3. Having or showing interest.
intent
Firmly directed or fixed; earnest; intense
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  1. Firmly directed or fixed; earnest; intense
  2. Having the attention applied; engrossed:
  3. Strongly resolved
perceptive
Able to perceive quickly and easily; having keen insight or intuition; penetrating
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  1. Able to perceive quickly and easily; having keen insight or intuition; penetrating
  2. Marked by discernment and understanding; sensitive.
  3. Having or showing keenness of perception, insight, understanding, or intuition
penetrating
Keen or acute; discerning
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  1. Keen or acute; discerning
  2. Able or seeming to penetrate:
  3. Sharp; piercing
sharp
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling:
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  1. Sudden and brilliant or dazzling:
  2. Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste:
  3. Fierce or impetuous; violent:
sharp
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling:
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  1. Sudden and brilliant or dazzling:
  2. Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste:
  3. Fierce or impetuous; violent:
alert
Watchful and ready, as in facing danger
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  1. Watchful and ready, as in facing danger
  2. Quick in thought or action; active; nimble
  3. Mentally responsive and perceptive; quick.
bright
Mentally quick; smart, clever, witty, etc.
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  1. Mentally quick; smart, clever, witty, etc.
  2. Full of promise and hope; auspicious:
  3. Happy; cheerful:
clever
Quick in thinking or learning; intelligent, ingenious, quick-witted, witty, facile, etc.
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  1. Quick in thinking or learning; intelligent, ingenious, quick-witted, witty, facile, etc.
  2. Handsome, convenient, nice, etc.
  3. Mentally quick and original; bright:
intelligent
Having or showing an alert mind or high intelligence; bright, perceptive, informed, clever, wise, etc.
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  1. Having or showing an alert mind or high intelligence; bright, perceptive, informed, clever, wise, etc.
  2. Showing sound judgment and rationality:
  3. Having or using intelligence; rational
quick
Moving or functioning rapidly and energetically; speedy:
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  1. Moving or functioning rapidly and energetically; speedy:
  2. Designating a reference source designed to provide basic or essential information in a format that is easy to use
  3. Perceiving or responding with speed and sensitivity; keen:
quick-witted
Alternative spelling of quick-witted.
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  1. Alternative spelling of quick-witted.
  2. Mentally keen, alert, sharp, agile, and nimble.
  3. Mentally alert and sharp; keen.
sharp
(Informal) Attractive or stylish:
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  1. (Informal) Attractive or stylish:
  2. Sudden and brilliant or dazzling:
  3. Brilliant; intense
smart
Shrewd or sharp, as in one's dealings
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  1. Shrewd or sharp, as in one's dealings
  2. Energetic or quick in movement:
  3. Having or showing intelligence; bright.
acute
Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions; sensitive:
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  1. Reacting readily to stimuli or impressions; sensitive:
  2. Narrowly pointed; sharp:
  3. Extremely sharp or severe; intense:
incisive
(Anatomy) Of or relating to the incisors.
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  1. (Anatomy) Of or relating to the incisors.
  2. Quickly proceeding to judgment and forceful in expression; decisive; forthright.
  3. Having the quality of incising, cutting, or penetrating, as with a sharp instrument; sharp; acute; sarcastic; biting.
penetrating
Keenly perceptive or understanding; acute:
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  1. Keenly perceptive or understanding; acute:
  2. Able or seeming to penetrate:
  3. Sharp; piercing
perceptive
Able to perceive quickly and easily; having keen insight or intuition; penetrating
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  1. Able to perceive quickly and easily; having keen insight or intuition; penetrating
  2. Having or showing keenness of perception, insight, understanding, or intuition
  3. Marked by discernment and understanding; sensitive.
probing
Of something that investigates or explores deeply.
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  1. Of something that investigates or explores deeply.
sensitive
Fluctuating or tending to fluctuate, especially in price:
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  1. Fluctuating or tending to fluctuate, especially in price:
  2. Aware of or careful about the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others:
  3. Easily irritated:
sharp
Abrupt or acute:
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  1. Abrupt or acute:
  2. Fierce or impetuous; violent:
  3. Acutely sensitive in seeing, hearing, etc.
trenchant
Forceful and clear; penetrating:
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  1. Forceful and clear; penetrating:
  2. (Figuratively) Keen; biting; vigorously effective and articulate; severe; as, trenchant wit.
  3. (Archaic) Cutting; sharp
ardent
Displaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion; fervent:
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  1. Displaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion; fervent:
  2. Expressing or characterized by warmth of feeling; passionate:
  3. Warm or intense in feeling; passionate
enthusiastic
Of, or having the nature of, enthusiasm
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  1. Of, or having the nature of, enthusiasm
  2. Having or showing enthusiasm; ardent
  3. With zealous fervor; excited, motivated.
fervent
Having or showing great warmth of feeling; intensely devoted or earnest; ardent
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  1. Having or showing great warmth of feeling; intensely devoted or earnest; ardent
  2. Hot; burning; glowing
mad
Temporarily or apparently deranged by violent sensations, emotions, or ideas:
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  1. Temporarily or apparently deranged by violent sensations, emotions, or ideas:
  2. (Slang) Excellent; wonderful:
  3. Feeling or showing strong liking or enthusiasm:
rabid
Fanatic or unreasonably zealous in beliefs, opinions, or pursuits
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  1. Fanatic or unreasonably zealous in beliefs, opinions, or pursuits
  2. Raging; uncontrollable:
  3. Extremely zealous or enthusiastic; fanatical:
warm
Marked by enthusiasm; ardent:
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  1. Marked by enthusiasm; ardent:
  2. (Informal) Uncomfortable because of danger or annoyance:
  3. Loving; passionate:
zealous
Full of zeal; ardent, fervent; exhibiting enthusiasm or strong passion.
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  1. Full of zeal; ardent, fervent; exhibiting enthusiasm or strong passion.
  2. Filled with or motivated by zeal; fervent.
crazy
In love; experiencing romantic feelings.
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  1. In love; experiencing romantic feelings.
  2. Out of control.
  3. (Informal) Unsound of mind; mentally unbalanced or deranged; psychopathic; insane
gung ho
Extremely enthusiastic and dedicated.
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  1. Extremely enthusiastic and dedicated.
  2. (Informal) Enthusiastic, cooperative, enterprising, etc. in an unrestrained, often naive way
nuts
Extremely enthusiastic:
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  1. Extremely enthusiastic:
  2. Crazy; foolish
agog
Full of keen anticipation or excitement; eager.
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  1. Full of keen anticipation or excitement; eager.
ardent
Displaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion; fervent:
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  1. Displaying or characterized by strong enthusiasm or devotion; fervent:
  2. Warm or intense in feeling; passionate
  3. Expressing or characterized by warmth of feeling; passionate:
athirst
Strongly desirous; eager:
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  1. Strongly desirous; eager:
  2. (Archaic) Thirsty.
  3. (Figuratively) Eager or extremely desirous (for something).
avid
Having an intense craving; greedy
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  1. Having an intense craving; greedy
  2. Having or marked by strong desire or craving; greedy:
  3. Eager and enthusiastic
eager
(Archaic) Sharp; keen
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  1. (Archaic) Sharp; keen
  2. Having or showing keen interest, intense desire, or impatient expectancy.
  3. Feeling or showing keen desire; impatient or anxious to do or get; ardent
impatient
Feeling or showing restless eagerness to do something, go somewhere, etc.
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  1. Feeling or showing restless eagerness to do something, go somewhere, etc.
  2. Restively eager or desirous; anxious:
  3. Unable to wait patiently or tolerate delay; restless.
solicitous
Expressing care or concern for another:
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  1. Expressing care or concern for another:
  2. (Archaic) Full of desire; eager:
  3. Showing great attention or concern to another:
thirsty
Needing to drink.
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  1. Needing to drink.
  2. Causing thirst; giving one a need to drink.
  3. Feeling thirst; wanting to drink
raring
Full of eagerness; enthusiastic.
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  1. Full of eagerness; enthusiastic.
  2. Eager.
divine
Of or like God or a god
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  1. Of or like God or a god
  2. (Informal) Very pleasing, attractive, etc.
  3. Supremely great, good, etc.
fabulous
Barely credible; astonishing:
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  1. Barely credible; astonishing:
  2. Extremely pleasing or successful:
  3. (Informal) Very good; wonderful
fantastic
Wonderful or superb; remarkable:
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  1. Wonderful or superb; remarkable:
  2. Exceedingly great in size or degree; extravagant:
  3. Wonderful; marvelous; excellent; extraordinarily good or great (used especially as an intensifier).
glorious
Having or deserving glory; famous.
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  1. Having or deserving glory; famous.
  2. (Informal) Very delightful or enjoyable
  3. Characterized by great beauty and splendor; magnificent:
marvelous
Causing wonder; surprising, astonishing, or extraordinary
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  1. Causing wonder; surprising, astonishing, or extraordinary
  2. Very good; fine; splendid
  3. Of the highest or best kind or quality; first-rate:
sensational
Arousing or intended to arouse strong curiosity, interest, or reaction, especially by exaggerated or lurid details:
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  1. Arousing or intended to arouse strong curiosity, interest, or reaction, especially by exaggerated or lurid details:
  2. (Informal) Exceptionally good, fine, etc.
  3. Exceptionally great.
splendid
Brilliant with light or color; radiant:
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  1. Brilliant with light or color; radiant:
  2. Imposing by reason of showiness or grandeur; magnificent:
  3. Very good; excellent; fine
superb
Majestic or magnificent:
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  1. Majestic or magnificent:
  2. Of unusually high quality; excellent:
  3. Extremely fine; excellent
terrific
(Informal) Unusually fine, admirable, enjoyable, etc.
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  1. (Informal) Unusually fine, admirable, enjoyable, etc.
  2. Very good or fine; splendid:
  3. Causing terror or great fear; terrifying:
wonderful
That causes wonder; marvelous; amazing
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  1. That causes wonder; marvelous; amazing
  2. Admirable or very good; excellent or splendid:
  3. Very good, excellent, fine, etc.
dandy
(Rare) Of or for a dandy; foppish
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  1. (Rare) Of or for a dandy; foppish
  2. Suggestive of or attired like a dandy; foppish.
  3. Fine; good.
dreamy
Filled with dreams
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  1. Filled with dreams
  2. Like something in a dream; not sharply defined; misty, vague, etc.
  3. (Informal) Inspiring delight; wonderful.
great
Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination:
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  1. Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination:
  2. (Informal) Very good; first-rate:
  3. Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent:
ripping
(Chiefly Brit., Slang, former) Excellent; fine; splendid
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  1. (Chiefly Brit., Slang, former) Excellent; fine; splendid
  2. Excellent; marvelous:
  3. (Dated, slang) Excellent.
super
(Informal) Outstanding; exceptionally fine
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  1. (Informal) Outstanding; exceptionally fine
  2. Excellent; first-rate:
  3. Great, extreme, or excessive
swell
Fashionably elegant; stylish.
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  1. Fashionably elegant; stylish.
  2. Excellent; wonderful:
  3. (Slang) First-rate; excellent
tremendous
(Archaic) Capable of making one tremble; terrible.
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  1. (Archaic) Capable of making one tremble; terrible.
  2. Wonderful, amazing, extraordinary, etc.
  3. Very large; great; enormous
cool
(Slang) Entire; full:
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  1. (Slang) Entire; full:
  2. Excellent; first-rate:
  3. (Slang) Very good, pleasing, etc.; excellent
groovy
(Dated, slang) Cool, neat, interesting, fashionable. [popular in the 1940s and again in the 1960s]
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  1. (Dated, slang) Cool, neat, interesting, fashionable. [popular in the 1940s and again in the 1960s]
  2. (Slang) Very pleasing or attractive
  3. Very pleasing; wonderful.
hot
Currently very popular or successful:
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  1. Currently very popular or successful:
  2. (Slang) Very good or impressive. Often used in the negative:
  3. (Slang) Performing with great skill and daring:
neat
Without anything superfluous; simple
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  1. Without anything superfluous; simple
  2. Marked by ingenuity and skill; adroit:
  3. Clean and in good order; trim; tidy
nifty
(Informal) Attractive, smart, stylish, enjoyable, etc.
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  1. (Informal) Attractive, smart, stylish, enjoyable, etc.
  2. Good; a general term for anything that is good, useful or beneficial.
  3. First-rate; great:
bawl
To utter in a loud, vehement voice.
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  1. To utter in a loud, vehement voice.
  2. To weep and wail loudly
  3. To cry or sob loudly; wail.
blubber
To say while blubbering
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  1. To say while blubbering
  2. To sob noisily.
  3. To utter while crying and sobbing.
cry
To bring into a particular condition by weeping:
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  1. To bring into a particular condition by weeping:
  2. To sob and shed tears, in expressing sorrow, pain, grief, etc.; weep
  3. (Archaic) To beg for; implore:
howl
(Slang) To laugh heartily.
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  1. (Slang) To laugh heartily.
  2. To cry or wail loudly, as in pain, sorrow, or anger.
  3. To shout or laugh in scorn, mirth, etc.
sob
To utter with sobs
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  1. To utter with sobs
  2. To weep aloud with a catch or break in the voice and short, gasping breaths
  3. To weep aloud with convulsive gasping; cry uncontrollably.
wail
To express grief or pain by long, loud cries
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  1. To express grief or pain by long, loud cries
  2. Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster's Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
  3. To cry out in mourning or lamentation
weep
To exude or let fall (drops of liquid):
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  1. To exude or let fall (drops of liquid):
  2. To shed (tears) as an expression of emotion:
  3. To manifest or give expression to a strong emotion, usually grief or sorrow, by crying, wailing, or, esp., shedding tears
yowl
(Intransitive) Utter a yowl.
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  1. (Intransitive) Utter a yowl.
  2. To utter a long loud mournful cry; wail.
  3. To say or utter with a yowl.
Find another word for keen. In this page you can discover 110 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for keen, like: eager, sharp-witted, pointed, edged, well-honed, acute, bright, clever, shrewd, cutting and piercing.

Sentence Examples

  • He continued to take a keen interest in art and science.

  • He wasn't too keen on the idea when she first told him about it.

  • She kept a keen eye out for the same kind of weed and was surprised at how much they found.

  • He was a fine horseman and keen hunter.

  • New friends gathered round him who took a keen interest in his researches.

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Words near keen in the Thesaurus