keen 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkēn How to pronounce keen (audio)
Definition of keennext
1
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences pilots with especially keen eyesight

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2
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin the keen wind gave me chapped lips

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3
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something lanced the boil with a keen scalpel

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4
as in quick
having or showing quickness of mind readers who were keen enough to realize that the writer was being satirical

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5
as in excellent
of the very best kind that new digital camera sure is keen

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6
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest a keen hunger for fame and fortune in the fashion industry

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7
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect movies gave him keen enjoyment like nothing else

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keen

2 of 3

noun

as in wail
a crying out in grief the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city

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keen

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid

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2
as in to howl
to make a long loud mournful sound mourners keening for the victims of the bombing

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective keen contrast with its synonyms?

The words acute and sharp are common synonyms of keen. While all three words mean "having or showing alert competence and clear understanding," keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.

a keen observer of the political scene

In what contexts can acute take the place of keen?

The meanings of acute and keen largely overlap; however, acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.

an acute sense of style

When would sharp be a good substitute for keen?

While the synonyms sharp and keen are close in meaning, sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness.

sharp enough to spot a confidence game

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 keen
Adjective
While Harding, the other tourist on the Titan, was a keen adventurer, the Dawoods preferred plusher vacations that taught them something. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Any keen potential buyer likely observed that Character Technologies’ blog noted that transitioning the service to a new buyer could impact platform safety, though. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
The keen-eyed among our readers will notice that the ROG glasses are largely the same inside and out as the Xreal One Pro, which cost $649. — New Atlas, 19 May 2026 The song finds Abstract continuing to explore the contours of indie and alternative rock, with a simmering lo-fi guitar riff that gives way to the uneasy keen of a synth. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023
Verb
Of course, Plant also used those keening high notes to express an appetite for destruction. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025 He’s been lauded for sounding like a vestige of another age — his supple, keening tenor the result of years of apprenticeship to the Pakistani artists Ustad Saami and Farida Khanum. — Emily Lordi Philip Cheung, New York Times, 10 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for keen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keen
  1. sensitive
  2. biting
  3. sharp
  4. quick
  5. excellent
  6. excited
  7. intense
  8. wail
Adjective
  • Adolescence is an exquisitely sensitive time in the brain’s development.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The chipmaker’s relationships with customers are similarly interlaced and sensitive.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Her version is louder and more biting, but never at the sacrifice of the track’s spirit.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In 2022, Lee County’s Mosquito Control District decided to try aiming radiation at mosquitoes instead, specifically the biting, disease-carrying kind — Aedes aegypti.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of biting
Adjective
  • On its face, however, this inspirational message seems in sharp contrast to economic reality.
    — Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Bajaria’s foresight was sharper, investing in local language productions and building up Netflix’s global presence (almost two dozen international offices were opened during Bajaria’s reign).
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of sharp
Adjective
  • If your team is any version of a Power Five power player, the playoff conversation gets real anticlimactic real quick.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • People in the comments were quick to offer the officer a lot of praise and other reactions.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • Williams aims to help build a county government that works for everyday people by lowering the cost of living, delivering excellent county services and protecting fundamental rights.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Nikko Remigio’s reputation as a return man isn’t splashy plays, but rather excellent ball security.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • The Fear Economy Pew Research found in August 2026 that 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, up from 37% in 2021.
    — Bob Pearson, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Upon their arrival, the couple stopped to greet excited fans, several of whom had brought them flowers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of excited
Adjective
  • George Bonanno, a psychologist at Columbia University, explains that many people who have intense symptoms initially—such as nightmares and flashbacks—won’t develop PTSD.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the competition among jewelers is becoming more intense, not only for sports team’s commissions but also to design ever flashier pieces with intricate details.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of intense
Noun
  • Feverish with feeling, the women scream, wail and sob, each one experiencing her misery multiply in real time as the remaining two look on in disdain.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • No wet plop of a SpongeBob ice cream bar crashing onto hot asphalt; a child’s apocalyptic wails ensuing.
    — Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of wail

Phrases Containing keen

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keels (over)
keen
keened
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Cite this Entry

“Keen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keen. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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