Skip to main content
acute

acute

14 4.1
Able to notice and understand things quickly
  • adjective
  • /əˈkjuːt/
: perspicaz
  • That's a very acute observation.
  • an acute awareness
  • an acute sense
  • an acute observer

And so women have a more acute sense of smell than men do.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I think we all watch that show for its sense of accuracy, because dogs, of course, can have a very acute sense of danger.

  • As there's nothing physically preventing your daughter from speaking, her silence is an acute emotional response to the severe shock she experienced.

  • And so women have a more acute sense of smell than men do.

  • Like I had a very acute sense of that as a child.

  • Her sense of smell is still as acute as mine.

  • "My hearing is quite acute, as I am sure you are aware.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Lizards have incredible hearing and an acute sense of smell.

  • My acute sensory perception would have detected that immediately.

  • Their sense of smell is 100,000 times as acute as ours.

  • Her acute ability to analyze complex problems helped the team succeed in their project.

Synonyms

sharp
vsacute
210 3.3

Quick at noticing small details and understanding things

is more about deep insight and thorough understanding than mere quickness
keen
vsacute
53 2.8

Having a quick, clear mind that notices small details

is focused on broad, clear awareness rather than subtle discriminations
incisive
vsacute
  • Formal
8 6.8

Showing a clear, deep understanding and explaining ideas sharply

is mainly about quick perception rather than sharp expression
discriminating
vsacute
7 6.2

Showing good taste and the ability to notice small differences in quality

is about quick, general understanding rather than refined taste judgments
penetrating
vsacute
6 5.4

Quick to understand and notice important details

is broader quick notice rather than especially intense insight
sharp as a tack
vsacute
  • Informal
5 6.7

Able to understand new things very quickly

is used in neutral descriptions of quick insight rather than playful praise
piercing
vsacute
2 6.3

A person who notices and understands things quickly and deeply

is more about quick clear understanding than emotional intensity
perspicacious
vsacute
  • Formal
2 9.8

Able to notice and understand things that are not obvious

is quicker at general clear understanding rather than finding hidden things
penetrative
vsacute
1 7.5

Understands things quickly and deeply

focuses on quick clear perception across situations rather than deep probing

Antonyms

obtuse
  • Offensive
17 7.4

Slow to understand what other people mean

Compounds

acute leukemia
  • Specialized
5 5.3

A fast-growing blood cancer that makes many young white blood cells

acute angle
  • Specialized
2 2.8

An angle that is less than 90 degrees

A serious breathing disease causing fever, cough and trouble breathing that can lead to death

1 5.7

A fast cancer of the blood in which the body makes many immature white blood cells often in children

1 4.4

A fast-developing blood cancer where immature white blood cells build up, often in children

acute triangle
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A triangle with all three angles less than 90 degrees

1 5.6

A fast-growing blood and bone marrow cancer that makes many immature white blood cells

acute-angled triangle
  • Specialized
1 3.2

A triangle in which all three angles are less than 90 degrees

acute renal failure
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A sudden severe loss of kidney function caused by injury or infection

acute kidney failure
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A sudden loss of the kidneys' ability to remove waste from the blood

acute accent
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A small slanted mark above a vowel that shows how to say it

1 5.7

A fast cancer of the blood that makes many abnormal white blood cells and often affects teenagers and young adults

acute glaucoma
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A sudden, serious eye problem when fluid inside the eye builds up, causing severe pain and risk of losing sight

double acute accent
  • Specialized
9.9

A mark of two acute accents placed above a vowel to show a long rounded sound in Hungarian

acute brain disorder
  • Specialized
7.3

A sudden short-term brain problem that makes a person confused and often follows illness, injury, or medicine use

A sudden viral illness that inflames nerve cells in the brain stem and spine and causes quick paralysis

acute gastritis
  • Specialized
4.8

A sudden swelling and pain in the stomach lining often caused by alcohol or medicines

A sudden infection by the herpes virus that damages the front and side parts of the brain

acute glossitis
  • Specialized
6.7

A sudden painful swelling of the tongue usually from injury or infection

A sudden severe swelling of the brain with bleeding into brain tissue

Temporary state of confusion and disorientation caused by short-term brain damage from infection, injury or drugs

acute pyelonephritis
  • Specialized
5.8

A sudden severe kidney infection that happens when bacteria move up from the bladder

8.1

A short time when someone suddenly has severe symptoms of schizophrenia

A virus infection from the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that affects the lungs and airways, also called COVID-19

How Perceptive

quick-witted
5 4.8
astute
38 6.9
acute
14 4.1
perceptive
41 5.5
observant
36 3.9

Surface Forms

acute positive

Etymology

Acute comes from Latin acutus 'sharp'. A helpful image is a 'sharp' mind that sees small details, so an acute observer notices things quickly and clearly.