1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
the keenness of the knife should tell you that it was sharpened recently a writer famous for the keenness of her wit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enthusiasm
urgent desire or interest
was looking forward to his birthday party with the keenness of a youngster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters
had the financial keenness to know that the stock was overvalued
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sensitiveness
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences
there's an enhanced keenness of hearing that young mothers seem to develop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of keenness
The talks signal keenness by both countries to maintain regular communication, The Wall Street Journal said.
—
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Farke himself commented on Gray’s keenness to be at the front of May’s title celebrations, despite having contributed only five minutes on the pitch for the senior side.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keenness
Noun
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Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.—
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Red flags included bitterness or any metallic notes the beans may have picked up during processing.—
Noun
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Pre-festival enthusiasm sagged compared to the inaugural year.—
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More energy and enthusiasm There were too many times in the first few months of the season when this team looked lethargic.—
Noun
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Many of these soldiers are still involved in supporting Ukraine, including by providing intelligence, logistics, and training assistance worth at least tens of billions per year.—
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The hackers accessed emails for staffers on the China, foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services committees, according to a new Financial Times report.—
Noun
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From comfort food classics to more elevated plates, several bites stood out at a preview event.—
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Guests will naturally gravitate towards these pairings, ensuring the perfect bite.—
Noun
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The loss of fluids and electrolytes can cause lightheadedness, excessive thirst, and muscle cramps.—
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That factors out to more than $11 million per year to slake a terrestrial data center’s thirst.—
Noun
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The verbiage is full of great wordplay and wit, just like a Larry Hart song.—
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Robustly packed with over 30 tracks, including 16 exclusive to the standard edition, the project captures their signature blend of raw honesty, sly wit, and dry humor.—
Noun
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Whatever the case, sensitivities about national security risks remain high as China’s relationship with Western nations grows tense.—
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Witches Witches in Rice's world are humans born with special supernatural sensitivities, oftentimes extra sensory perceptions or the power of telekinesis.—
Noun
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Rye whiskey is the drier and spicier cousin of bourbon with an herbaceous edge, an edge which (as with the Sazerac, La Louisiane and others) is given a few dozen exclamation points with a dash of absinthe.—
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Cake mix, lemon pie filling, and butter come together in the oven to create crisp edges and a gooey, citrusy center, while a little cream cheese in the mix rounds out the lemon’s brightness.—
Cite this Entry
“Keenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keenness. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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