🔪 Able to cut 🧠 Quick to notice 💬 Harsh or biting 📈 Sudden or steep ⏰ Exactly on time 🔍 Clearly defined ⚡ Intense feeling 🔊 High-pitched sound 🎵 Higher in pitch ↩️ Sudden change ♯ Music sign

sharp

12 3.2

A high piercing sound that hurts the ears

adjective
/ʃɑrp/

: agudo

The sound of electric drums, sharp as gunfire, came from the balcony.

The affected people describe those sounds as sharp, disorienting, or oddly focused.

Examples

The affected people describe those sounds as sharp, disorienting, or oddly focused.

Sabine Hossenfelder
- Careful, it's very, very sharp.

Nightmare Sisters (1988)
I remember an English officer's voice saying something quite sharp, though I couldn't catch the words.

Fiction book (1994)
It's not just like a loud, like an air horn, you know, this one actually has a very, very sharp, decayed sound.
A seagull skimmed above the surf, and I could hear its sharp, distant call.

Fiction book (1994)
The butler moves a cup and saucer, causing a sharp rattling sound.

Fiction book (1992)
Now the hunting barks of the chimps mixed with the sharp alarm calls of the monkeys.

Academic text (1991)
Suddenly, Naja opened her mouth and let out three sharp squeaks, like descending notes on a horn.

Fiction book (1990)
"Sahra Covenry?" Sahra jumped at the sharp voice, but it was not Mistress Elward.

Fiction book (1992)
The sharp sound of the whistle echoed through the stadium, signaling the start of the game.

Synonyms

high

vssharp

124 1.0

Making a thin, sharp sound

adds a piercing, cutting quality beyond mere pitch

high-pitched

vssharp

39 3.7

A sound or voice that is very high and sharp

emphasizes piercing force rather than only pitch

shrill

vssharp

33 4.8

A very high, sharp sound that is unpleasant and loud

is less loud and less unpleasant in tone

crisp

vssharp

22 3.5

Clear and sharply defined, easy to see or hear

expresses high piercing tone not just clarity

razor-sharp

vssharp

18 4.1

Able to cut very easily with a thin hard edge, like a knife

is a high pitched tone sense not literal edge

spiky

vssharp

15 3.3

Having sharp points like a cactus, or a high, harsh sound and look

focuses on sound meaning rather than physical points

squealing

vssharp

7 4.1

A high, sharp sound made by a mouse or brakes

is not limited to animal or mechanical sounds

bright

vssharp

3 3.8

A clear, sharp sound that is easy to hear

is higher and more piercing instead of mainly resonant

shrieky

vssharp

1 7.2

Making a very high, loud, annoying sound that hurts your ears

is not typically as loud or crylike

brilliant

vssharp

1 4.7

Very clear, sharp, and ringing in sound

focuses on piercing pitch rather than ringing clarity

shrilling

vssharp

1 7.4

A long, very high sound that hurts the ears

is not continuous and can be a brief sound

as sharp as a razor-blade

vssharp

5.0

Very clear and exact so there is no doubt

uses high sound meaning rather than literal edge quality

Antonyms

to dull

33 3.4

Cause something to become less sharp, strong or bright

Idioms

sharp as a tack

Informal

5 6.7

Able to understand new things very quickly

three o'clock sharp

1 1.4

Exactly at three o'clock

sharp as a bowling ball

Offensive

1 9.3

A person who is not smart and is slow to understand things

a poke in the eye with a sharp stick

Informal

1 9.9

A joking way to say something is very unpleasant or painful

as sharp as a butter knife

Offensive

1 7.5

Fails to make a strong point because it is dull and weak

as sharp as a razor-blade

5.0

Very clear and exact so there is no doubt

Compounds

razor-sharp

18 4.1

Able to cut very easily with a thin hard edge, like a knife

sharp teeth

18 2.5

Pointed teeth that cut or pierce food, for example in sharks

sharp pain

15 3.3

A sudden strong feeling of hurt in one small part of the body

sharp-eyed

14 4.1

Able to see small things and notice small changes quickly

sharp mind

8 3.8

A quick, clear way of thinking that helps solve problems

sharp tongue

7 6.1

A habit of speaking in a harsh, critical way

sharp wit

4 4.1

To make quick, clever, funny comments that amuse people

razor-sharp

3 4.2

Very clear and exact so you can see every small detail

sharp end

3 6.0

The pointed, dangerous part of a thing or the most risky part of a situation

sharp-worded

2 7.1

Saying harsh words to criticize someone or something

sharp suit

2 3.3

A neat, stylish outfit that fits the body well

sharp-cornered

2 4.4

A thing with pointed corners like a table or shelf that can hurt you

sharp cookie

Informal

1 5.6

A clever person who understands things quickly

sharp-nosed

1 4.7

With a pointed nose or front, for example a plane

card sharp

Informal

1 9.3

A person who cheats at card games to win money

sharp-elbowed

1 8.1

Someone who acts in a pushy way to get ahead and promote their own interests

sharp sting

1 3.2

A sudden, strong, short pain like a small prick

sharp-toothed

1 4.0

Having sharp, pointed teeth like a shark

sharp-tasting

1 3.9

A strong, slightly sour taste like in aged cheese or salad dressing

sharp-sighted

1 4.6

Able to see small things very clearly

sharp-sighted

1 5.2

Quick to notice and understand small details

sharp-tailed grouse

1 9.5

A large land bird with pointed tail feathers found in western prairies and open forests

sharp-eared

1 4.9

Able to hear very quiet sounds

sharp joke

1 3.4

A clever joke that can sting someone's feelings

sharp end of the stick

1 7.2

The pointed end of a stick that can cut or poke

sharp riposte

1 8.2

A quick clever reply that answers an insult or criticism

double sharp

Specialized

1 9.1

A sign that tells you to play a note two piano keys higher

sharp-edged comment

Offensive

6.6

A remark that is harsh and meant to hurt someone's feelings

sharp-sightedness

6.6

The ability to see small details clearly with the eyes

sharp-sightedness

6.8

The ability to notice small details by paying attention

How Shrill

screeching

18 3.3

piercing

23 5.5

shrill

33 4.8

sharp

12 3.2

high-pitched

39 3.7

Surface Forms

sharp positive

sharper comparative

sharpest superlative

Etymology

Sharp for a sound comes from the idea of a 'point' that can pierce, so a sharp whistle or voice is high and piercing like a pointed object.