1
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
be careful, as that knife is sharp enough to slice off a finger
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2
as in spicy
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor
that cheese is so sharp that its rank aroma can practically clear a room
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3
4
as in stylish
being in the latest or current fashion
wore a sharp suit to his first big job interview
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5
as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance
a television personality who's known as a sharp dresser
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6
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
I got chapped lips from sailing all day in that sharp wind
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7
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception
sharp business practices that are being investigated by the state's consumer protection agency
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8
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a sharp customer who wasn't about to be taken in by that smooth-tongued salesman
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9
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind
any sharp student would have noticed the error immediately
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10
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
an unnecessarily sharp retort to a perfectly civil question
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11
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
you have sharp eyes
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12
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
a spell of unusually sharp weather for this time of year
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as in right
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference
be there at four o'clock sharp
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as in adept
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
the computer sharp that the rest of the staff turns to whenever their PCs act up
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sharp
Avery Lotz, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Put on gloves: To protect your hands from sharp pieces.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2025
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023
The 27-year-old didn’t come out sharp, allowing three hits, including an RBI single to Royce Lewis, in a 27-pitch first inning.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
But a reminder — the sharps were on the Eagles last year.
—Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
Tony Romm, Jeff Stein and Marianna Sotomayor, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Mar. 2023
Investors are reassessing their outlook for economic growth amid these massive policy risks, leading to sharp down and up movements in stock markets.
—Christian Weller, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sharp
Adjective
But low trust in media and institutions, political gridlock, lobbyist influence and sharp inequalities persist.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Put on gloves: To protect your hands from sharp pieces.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2025
Adverb
In 2021, prior to BTS temporarily splitting off into individual sectors while some members pursue solo projects and others complete their mandatory military service, Jung Kook spoke to Rolling Stone about keeping his skillset sharp across the board.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2023
The 27-year-old didn’t come out sharp, allowing three hits, including an RBI single to Royce Lewis, in a 27-pitch first inning.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 1 July 2023
Noun
Liquids, needles or sharps cannot be accepted — only pills or patches.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024
But a reminder — the sharps were on the Eagles last year.
—Jason Abbruzzese, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
Verb
That could require Republicans to identify even steeper reductions, perhaps totaling $16 trillion, in a move that could expose the party to sharp political attacks.
—Tony Romm, Jeff Stein and Marianna Sotomayor, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Mar. 2023
Investors are reassessing their outlook for economic growth amid these massive policy risks, leading to sharp down and up movements in stock markets.
—Christian Weller, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for sharp
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharp
Adjective
-
These wines are big, bold, and spicy, often with rich blackberry and dark chocolate flavors.—
Emily Price,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Grounded by spicy fennel and velvety musks, this unisex cologne boasts impressively long wear, yet is refreshing and light enough to wear on a super humid day.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The mostly low-rise slim jeans flared over pointed toe stilettos and were styled with large medallion-like belts.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Martin Makary, Trump’s nominee to be Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, navigated pointed scrutiny Thursday during a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
These pants remind us so much of Scandinavian style — relaxed, stylish, and elevated.—
Genevieve Cepeda,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2025
-
If your spring involves attending the neighborhood Easter egg hunt or casual outings to the local flower shop, this short-sleeve sweater is a comfortable yet stylish option.—
Michelle Rostamian,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Grande’s elegant look this evening stayed true to the spirit of her red-carpet style this awards season.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2025
-
This elegant, spare picture doesn’t hammer away at its message.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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On a recent Saturday afternoon, several thousand people gathered in Union Square, in the biting cold, for a rally in support of trans youth.—
Emily Witt,
The New Yorker,
19 Feb. 2025
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Now, 72 hours after being purged because they were considered probationary workers, a biting reality has set in for many of them.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
The Mercury News,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Burrowes’ new fraud lawsuit also includes claims for unjust enrichment and deceptive business practices.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
26 Feb. 2025
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken some steps to regulate the collection of data in vehicles, focusing on consumer protection and preventing deceptive practices.—
Eric Reicin,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There were quite a few impressive QB performances in all-star games this spring, and the Panthers investing in an heir apparent to Dalton might be smart business.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2025
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Learn about Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles, smart irrigation, vegetable gardening, and flower species to attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.—
Joe Rassel,
Orlando Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Put differently, intelligent onboarding can enable financial service providers to reach thin-file and difficult-to-identify demographics while reducing dropout rates.—
James Bruni,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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What’s more, Asian elephants are highly social, highly intelligent, and endangered, raising intractable ethical obstacles to experimenting on them.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
TIME,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sharp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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