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sharpness

sharpness

1 2.9
A strong, biting taste or smell that stings the nose
  • noun
  • /ˈʃɑːrp.nəs/
translation icon : sabor picante
  • She winced at the sharpness of the vinegar, which was much stronger than she expected.
  • acidic sharpness

Examples

  • Yes, salt water, hot salt water with a sharpness to it.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Odors had lost their sharpness.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • This sharpness is needed now more than ever before.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The wind's sharpness increased the chill.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • I heard the loud crack and smelled the sharpness of the gunpowder before I felt it.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Faul gasped, struck by the sudden sharpness of cold air as she burst from the passageway and onto the beach.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • It took a conscious effort to inhale its sharpness, yet instead of cursing the cold, I had a thought that maybe the purpose of winter is...

    Fiction book (2001)
  • He faced east, toward the Bund and the Whangpoo River, and I thought I smelled the river's familiar sharpness, a grimy mix of factory smoke, seaweed, and fish, though the Whangpoo was some ten miles away.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The sharpness of the cheese made it an ideal addition to the gourmet recipe.

  • The dish was enhanced by the sharpness of the spices, giving it a lively flavor.

Synonyms

bite
vssharpness
34 5.3

A sharp, strong quality in taste or smell

is the general strong taste or smell quality rather than the sting
bitterness
vssharpness
9 2.6

A sharp unpleasant taste found in foods like black coffee

is the general biting sensory quality rather than only this unpleasant taste
tang
vssharpness
6 5.9

A strong sharp taste or smell that stays on the tongue

is the broader strong taste or smell quality rather than only tart notes
smack
vssharpness
3 7.5

A small strong taste often from a spice

is the sensory quality of being biting or intense rather than simply distinctive
acidity
vssharpness
3 3.4

A sour, sharp taste like in lemon or vinegar

is broader, covering biting smells and tastes beyond just acid causes
harshness
vssharpness
2 3.5

A strong unpleasant effect that hurts the senses

is about biting or intense taste or smell rather than general unpleasantness
sourness
vssharpness
1 1.2

A sharp, acidic taste like lemon or vinegar

is not limited to acidity and covers other biting taste or smell types
pungent smell
vssharpness
1 3.3

A strong sharp smell that makes your eyes water

is the general taste or smell strong quality, not only unpleasant smell
pungency
vssharpness
1 7.0

A strong sharp taste or smell that makes your eyes water

is the general term for that sensory quality across foods and smells
tanginess
vssharpness
1 4.2

A sharp, pleasantly sour taste like lemon, often with a little spice

is broader and can be more intense and not necessarily pleasant
astringency
vssharpness
1 8.4

A sharp taste that makes your mouth pucker and feel dry

is broader, covering strong tastes beyond that puckering feeling
pungence
vssharpness
  • Archaic
8.7

A strong, sharp taste or smell that can be unpleasant for some people

is the broad sensory quality described as biting or intense
piquantness
vssharpness
8.4

A pleasantly sharp taste that makes food more exciting

is the same strong quality but may be less clearly appetizing
astringence
vssharpness
  • Specialized
9.9

A sharp, puckering taste that makes your mouth feel dry, often in tea or wine

is the general strong taste or smell quality, not only puckering
raciness
vssharpness
8.2

A strong, sharp taste or smell that is easy to notice

is similar but focuses more on biting sensory edge rather than lively flair
punchiness
vssharpness
7.0

A strong, sharp taste or smell you notice quickly

is the sensory quality itself rather than an energetic effect
acridness
vssharpness
8.1

A strong, bitter smell or taste that burns the nose

is broader concerning biting taste rather than this bitter plus odor mix
pepperiness
vssharpness
7.0

A sharp, spicy taste like pepper that stings the tongue

is broader, including other biting tastes and smells beyond spicy heat
tartness
vssharpness
5.6

A sharp, cutting way of speaking that sounds rude

is the sensory biting taste or smell rather than a figurative cutting sense

Antonyms

1 4.1

A lack of strong taste in food

2.3

A blade that is not sharp

How Sharp

acridity
9.6
pungency
1 7.0
sharpness
1 2.9
mildness
1 3.3

Surface Forms

sharpness singular
sharpnesses plural

Morphology

sharpness = sharp (transparent) = sharp + ness

The taste/smell sense is a direct, commonly known use of 'sharp', so forming a noun with '-ness' is straightforward.

Etymology

Sharpness comes from an old German word and the English word sharp, which meant 'cutting' or 'keen'. So the sharpness of a taste or smell is like a 'cut' on the tongue—a strong, biting quality.