acuteness

[ uh-kyoot-nis ]

noun

1. sharpness or intensity:

   The incident illustrates with devastating acuteness how important it is to consider the needs of others when choosing our words.

2. the fact, quality, or degree of being serious or critical; severity:

   The acuteness of these social problems varies from country to country, but everywhere they are an offense against human dignity.

3. the quality of being sharp or penetrating in intellect or insight:

   I appreciated the courtesy of the committee's interrogation as well as the acuteness of their questions.

4. sensitivity even to slight details or impressions:

   The acuteness of my hearing while under nervous strain was extraordinary—I could hear a watch ticking three rooms away.

Other Words From

• hy·per·a·cute·ness noun
• non·a·cute·ness noun
• o·ver·a·cute·ness noun
• su·per·a·cute·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acuteness¹

acute ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

His perception was still exceptionally alert, its acuteness left over, apparently, from the earlier days of pain and jealousy.

From Project Gutenberg

But I have enough mental acuteness to see that the religion of Jeremy Taylor was cowardly, and gloomy, and untrue.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the former are acuteness and quickness of vision, the power of grasping complex subjects, and a good memory.

From Project Gutenberg

Her loss of sight had been more than compensated by an extraordinary acuteness of mental vision.

From Project Gutenberg

That is the way of female intellects when they are good; nothing equals their acuteness, and their rapidity is almost excessive.

From Project Gutenberg