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Glite Dictionary
🔥 Great eagerness 🧠 Sharp intelligence 🔪 Sharp edge
keenness

keenness

4.6
A very sharp edge used for cutting
  • noun
  • /ˈkiːn.nəs/
translation icon : afilado
  • The jeweler praised the keenness of the diamond's cut, which gave it an exceptional sparkle.

Examples

  • The artist appreciated the keenness of the blade used to carve intricate designs into the wood.

  • The keenness of my sight astonished Professor Daumer.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The keenness of the knife allowed it to slice through the vegetables effortlessly.

Synonyms

sharpness
vskeenness
1 3.0

A very thin edge or point that cuts things easily

focuses on the fine edged point or surface rather than cutting ability
acuteness
vskeenness
6.0

A point or edge that is very sharp

is the same sharp quality rather than a different physical property
pointedness
vskeenness
6.0

The state of having a sharp or narrow tip

emphasizes a finely edged point or surface rather than only tip shape

Antonyms

bluntness
4.3

A lack of a sharp edge or point that makes cutting hard

How Sharp

keenness
4.6
dullness
2.3

Surface Forms

keenness singular
keennesses plural

Morphology

keenness = keen (transparent) = keen + ness

Standard nominalization of the adjective 'keen' (sharp) with '-ness'; the blade-related meaning is directly predictable.

Etymology

Keenness comes from keen + -ness, where keen originally meant 'sharp' like a fine blade. That image of a 'sharp' edge helps you remember that keenness can describe how finely edged or sharp a knife is.