ACUTELY Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

acutely

adverb

Definition of acutely

as in keenly

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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 acutely Since 2022, acutely conscious of the issue at hand, Unipublic, the company that organizes the Vuelta, has planted 2,000 native trees around the country. — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 Debbie Willson is acutely aware of how a death can fall through the cracks. — Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026 Unbelievably, in 2027, 30 years will have passed since the seismic loss that was felt around the world—but none felt it more acutely than her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 Aug. 2026 The consequences of policy errors, Warsh said, is felt more acutely on Main Street than on Wall Street. — Jeff Marks,zev Fima,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 And while Dillagence 2 looks backward, Rhymes remains acutely interested in what’s happening next. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026 Below, during a conversation with THR, Taylor-Joy also discusses key changes made to Jonathan Tropper’s adaptation of Marissa Stapley’s novel Lucky, before revealing what made her first day on set acutely emotional. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 And as one of the last remaining elder statesmen of a genre that spent most of its existence largely underappreciated by those out of the know, Guy is acutely aware of the immense weight resting on his shoulders. — Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 Karen Finney, who helped push Democrat Joe Biden to select a Black woman as his vice presidential running mate, said Black politicians often are the first and loudest advocates on issues that acutely affect Black constituents. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for acutely

Adverb

The team is keenly aware that in the modern market, trust is not bought but earned, and Vita Bella strives to achieve this every step of the way.

— William Jones, Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026
The milestone hit especially keenly for Jamie Lynn Spears, having nearly lost her eldest daughter, Maddie, to an ATV accident 10 years ago.

— Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of keenly

Adverb

Ford Motor is increasing production of its crucial F-Series trucks after fires at an aluminum supplier severely impacted output over the past year.

— Michael Wayland, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
The water supply system for the park was also severely damaged, along with part of a new $208 million water pipeline project that was underway near the ranch.

— Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of severely

Adverb

Hostilities at sea have ‌escalated sharply with attacks by both sides on ports and commercial shipping, pushing ‌up global grain prices.

— Reuters, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
New York City on Wednesday announced that AI tools will be banned in public grade and middle schools and sharply limited for high school students.

— Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of sharply

Adverb

Most poignantly, he was struck by how far the late, great Buck O’Neil’s museum has come since its inception in a one-room office in 1990.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
At once a coming-of-age drama and a portrait of a dying Texas town in the 1950s, The Last Picture Show, based on Pulitzer Prize winner Larry McMurtry’s novel, poignantly depicts the bleak descent of youth into jaded adulthood.

— Air Mail, Air Mail, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of poignantly

Adverb

Yust also alleges prosecutorial misconduct, arguing that a prosecutor improperly urged jurors to sentence him more harshly because of the emotional impact of the trial on them.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him.

— McKay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of harshly

Adverb

Chef Steven Pham is still simmering his signature Northern Vietnamese-style pho ga, which features a soul-piercingly clear broth, tender poached chicken, rice noodles, and a floating raft of fresh herbs.

— Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
The Towode Door Stop Alarm is a budget-friendly, highly effective safety tool that functions as a wedge door stop and a piercingly loud alarm when activated.

— Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026

Definition of piercingly

Adverb

The movie’s strongest sequences provide the all-too-rare sensation of truly not being able to believe your eyes, as the film’s most fantastical elements feel distressingly real.

— Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026
The event was halted after an hour due to fears about her safety, which distressingly encapsulates a tension that the trans Mayan artist has navigated for years.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026

Definition of distressingly

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“Acutely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acutely. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of acutely

adverb

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