1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
he found that the bland crackers helped cut the sharpness of the cheese
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness
dress warmly; there's a bit of sharpness in the air today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters
possesses a political sharpness that most campaign managers would envy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sensitivity
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences
possesses the proverbial sharpness of an eagle's eye
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sharpness
The sharpness of last season is missing from his game.
—
Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Its Supersize Picture Enhancer uses AI to reduce noise and boost sharpness, and PurColor tech gives you a wider color spectrum than regular RGB.
—PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2025
This vinaigrette is bright and tangy with a gentle sweetness from honey that balances the sharpness of apple cider vinegar and mustard.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
Their sharpness comes from compounds like lactucin and lactucopicrin, which plants produce in response to stress and cold.
—Katie Parla, Saveur, 30 Oct. 2025
You’ll be surprised by the luminosity of ingredients like bergamot, turmeric, and peppercorn that come with this offering, whose sharpness is cut through by the sweetness of fig and the citrusy woodiness of petitgrain.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
This design eliminates the common edge softness found in typical panoramic imagery, ensuring consistent sharpness from center to corner and delivering a solid foundation for high-resolution output.
—New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2025
Now the show has demoted her to a B- or C-plot sitcom character, lacking in sharpness and a consistent point of view.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2025
Loose pucks Asked what the B’s could have done better on the goal off the faceoff on Tuesday, on which both Mason Lohrei and Tanner Jeannot were beaten, Sturm stressed mental sharpness.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharpness
Noun
-
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.—
-
Red flags included bitterness or any metallic notes the beans may have picked up during processing.—
Noun
-
Despite a chill in the air on Saturday night, the energy outside the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood was electric as crowds lined up along Sunset Boulevard, hoping for a glimpse of the stars arriving at Vanity Fair and Amazon MGM Studios' third annual pre-Golden Globes party.—
-
And with the new year upon us and a biting chill in the air, now is the ideal time to prepare for the inevitable clutter caused by our hodgepodge of gardening tools.—
Noun
-
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.—
-
The hackers accessed emails for staffers on the China, foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services committees, according to a new Financial Times report.—
Noun
-
Whatever the case, sensitivities about national security risks remain high as China’s relationship with Western nations grows tense.—
-
Witches Witches in Rice's world are humans born with special supernatural sensitivities, oftentimes extra sensory perceptions or the power of telekinesis.—
Noun
-
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.—
-
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.—
Noun
-
The verbiage is full of great wordplay and wit, just like a Larry Hart song.—
-
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
-
From comfort food classics to more elevated plates, several bites stood out at a preview event.—
-
Guests will naturally gravitate towards these pairings, ensuring the perfect bite.—
Noun
-
Going forwards, the idea is for The Overlap to become a media network spanning brands and channels across different sports, while utilizing Global’s data insights and ad sales.—
-
The consumer insights group released its 2026 Apparel, Accessories and Footwear Report this week, unveiling insights that could redefine 2026 merchandising bets.—
Cite this Entry
“Sharpness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharpness. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share