adjective
acute
uh-KYOOT/əˈkjuːt/
Exceptionally sharp in intensity or perception.
She grips her side in acute pain and steadies herself.
Etymology
From “to sharpen,” the Latin participle meant “sharp” or “pointed” and also “penetrating” or “intelligent.” That image of sharpness connects intense pain with keen perception.
In context
an acute observer might have read in the curves of his lips a little of the contempt he felt for the man before him.
More examples
- The region faces an acute shortage of clean water.
- Her acute hearing detects a faint ticking behind the wall.
- He offers an acute analysis of the proposal's weaknesses.
Forms
acuteness noun — Sharpness of perception or intensity of feeling.