1
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
dogs, with their acute sense of smell, are used for finding toxic substances undetectable by humans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
famine caused by an acute shortage of grain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
experiencing acute distress over the misunderstanding with her best friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 acute
Concentrations as far as 21 miles away in Midtown Atlanta exceeded federal acute exposure guideline levels by a threshold of four.
—
Aj Willingham,
AJC.com,
29 June 2026
Therapeutic housing unit allows closure of facility The now-shuttered North Infirmary Command most recently housed 223 people with acute medical needs who required hospital-level care.
—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The treatment gap is especially acute in carceral settings.
—
Hannah Harris Green,
STAT,
26 June 2026
But in Faiz’s poem, the union with the beloved also contains an acute awareness of mortality and the transience of beauty – a recognition of what has been lost, and the suffering still to come.
—
Krupa Shandilya,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for acute
Aj Willingham,
AJC.com,
29 June 2026
Therapeutic housing unit allows closure of facility The now-shuttered North Infirmary Command most recently housed 223 people with acute medical needs who required hospital-level care.
—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The treatment gap is especially acute in carceral settings.
—
Hannah Harris Green,
STAT,
26 June 2026
But in Faiz’s poem, the union with the beloved also contains an acute awareness of mortality and the transience of beauty – a recognition of what has been lost, and the suffering still to come.
—
Krupa Shandilya,
The Conversation,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for acute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acute
Adjective
-
Rescuers then wait intently for any indication of life, using sensitive microphones or telescopic cameras or simply pressing an ear against the rubble, hoping to detect a voice, a knock or the faintest movement.
-
So far, the administration has sued multiple states unsuccessfully in attempts to obtain sensitive voter-roll data to run through a federal database known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program.
Adjective
-
Jett is nonverbal and has a mental health condition, police said, making the search especially urgent.
-
Last month, many of those companies gathered alongside military officials to address what was clearly an urgent problem requiring novel solutions.
Adjective
-
Indie Shakes managing director David Melville distills his production around scenes of intense conflict.
-
As the planet warms, extreme heat events are becoming more common, intense and long-lasting.
Adjective
-
However, many board members were not keen on the idea given that the North Miami Ave property sits directly across from railroad tracks serving the Brightline high-speed passenger train.
-
For those more keen on refreshing their homes, our team also has plenty of decor and appliance picks—including a luxury coffee maker—to recommend.
Adjective
-
Housed in remote data centers whose energy-intensive maintenance perpetuates the changing environmental conditions that threaten Tuvalu’s existence, the attempt to redeposit territory digitally drives home the paradoxes, and costs, of storage.
-
Qatari mediators returned to the Iranian capital for 17 hours of what the diplomat described as intensive negotiations.
Adjective
-
Either way, Aestura’s Atobarrier 365 Ceramide Cream Mist is an easy way to give quick hydration to dry, stressed skin, thanks to an ultrafine spray packed with ceramides.
-
From California politics to safety concerns on Sacramento roads, here’s a quick digest of some of the top stories for June 23, 2026.
Adjective
-
The 2023 arrest of her then-10-year-old cousin for urinating in public brought fierce condemnation.
-
For a party that prides itself on diversity, the clashes have exacerbated fierce debates over identity politics and long-standing rifts between progressives and moderates.
Adjective
-
Tourism in Albania has seen a sharp increase in recent years, with people relishing the nation’s vast, undeveloped coastline.
-
Netanyahu, 76, has spent decades mastering political theater, sharp messaging and grand performances.
Cite this Entry
“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acute. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
