as in keenly
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Recent Examples of acutely
But the neighborhood still feels fragile, acutely sensitive to any uptick in crime and any drop-off in city services.
—
Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
As Congress edges closer to Friday’s funding deadline that could shutter the Department of Homeland Security, lawmakers in both parties are warning that the consequences may be most acutely felt by those traveling.
—Nik Popli, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
Restaurants and cafés have been struggling acutely ever since the COVID pandemic, which compounded ongoing issues around rent and insurance and labor costs.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
The authors were also correct that senior administrative positions are not protected by academic freedom in the same way as faculty roles, a fact that every college president feels acutely.
—Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2026
The impacts are being felt acutely by individual countries.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Beijing has already cast that US posture – seen most acutely in the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro – as a form of imperialism and bullying.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
The threat is felt so acutely that fascists are led to take joy in cruelty against those outside this group, and others who stand to benefit from greater equality.
—Literary Hub, 30 Jan. 2026
Large commercial customers are likely to feel the impact more acutely because a greater share of their bills is tied to that adjustment rate than residential or smaller commercial accounts.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
As Congress edges closer to Friday’s funding deadline that could shutter the Department of Homeland Security, lawmakers in both parties are warning that the consequences may be most acutely felt by those traveling.
—Nik Popli, Time, 11 Feb. 2026
Restaurants and cafés have been struggling acutely ever since the COVID pandemic, which compounded ongoing issues around rent and insurance and labor costs.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
The authors were also correct that senior administrative positions are not protected by academic freedom in the same way as faculty roles, a fact that every college president feels acutely.
—Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2026
The impacts are being felt acutely by individual countries.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026
Beijing has already cast that US posture – seen most acutely in the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro – as a form of imperialism and bullying.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
The threat is felt so acutely that fascists are led to take joy in cruelty against those outside this group, and others who stand to benefit from greater equality.
—Literary Hub, 30 Jan. 2026
Large commercial customers are likely to feel the impact more acutely because a greater share of their bills is tied to that adjustment rate than residential or smaller commercial accounts.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acutely
Adverb
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Plus Russia has been expanding its drone capabilities in the war against Ukraine – a war keenly supported by Panov.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
8 Feb. 2026
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Konate’s absence on compassionate leave following the death of his father has also been keenly felt.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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More severely, two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government is intentionally withholding information, according to a recent poll.—
Kaitlyn Buss,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
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Three years before the balcony collapse that severely injured 10 people, the condo's property manager hired engineers and contractors.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Miami also bounced back sharply, jumping 82 percent to 40 sales, while London slipped to seventh place with just 35 deals.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
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If the states don’t reach a deal, federal officials could sharply cut Arizona’s water starting next year, and at that point, a lawsuit is likely, Buschatzke said.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Perhaps more poignantly, various DOJ and FBI officials have refused to pursue the administration’s agenda to go after journalists, with a number resigning their positions, Deadline can confirm.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
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Two chairs were poignantly left empty in the ceremony space to honor Will's parents.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Recent changes narrowing the kinds of tasks agencies can perform when funding lapses also mean that shutdowns have the potential to hit a larger number of Americans more harshly than before, Abigail André, the executive director of the Impact Project, told me.—
Toluse Olorunnipa,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
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The plaintiffs allege that Black employees in the office were disciplined more harshly than their colleagues, denied accommodations and subjected to escalating retaliation after raising concerns about Johnson’s leadership.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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His lashes are long, the eyes deep-set, large and intense, staring piercingly into you.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
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How could the woman who wrote so piercingly about women’s subjugation subjugate herself to not just one but two men?—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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The pipeline of new antibiotics remains distressingly thin, and most drugs currently in development are structurally similar to existing antibiotics, potentially limiting their effectiveness.—
André O. Hudson,
The Conversation,
21 Jan. 2026
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That can be forgiven thanks to the film’s evocative imagery and the emotional resonance of its central themes, distressingly familiar to anyone who has ever lost themselves in a relationship.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
These athletes run dozens of miles, generally in the heat, at altitude, or in bad weather, up and down mountains, all while attempting, sometimes miserably, to eat and drink enough to keep going.—
Dan England,
Outside,
5 Feb. 2026
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Brown then tried to ride the anti-tax, spending-limit movement into the White House two years later — but failed miserably.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acutely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acutely. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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