1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
the keenness of the knife should tell you that it was sharpened recently a writer famous for the keenness of her wit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in enthusiasm
urgent desire or interest
was looking forward to his birthday party with the keenness of a youngster
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters
had the financial keenness to know that the stock was overvalued
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in sensitiveness
the state or quality of being able to sense slight impressions or differences
there's an enhanced keenness of hearing that young mothers seem to develop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keenness
Noun
-
Scoble’s sweeping vision of the future shaped my thinking and fueled the enthusiasm to write my own book, Charlie Fink’s Metaverse, which came out just thirteen months later.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025 -
Cass Goodner, in his wisdom, did not share their enthusiasm.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
We're not limited to making suggestions in the boardroom; our (ideas) extend deeply into an enterprise's daily operations, encompassing brand building, channel expansion, marketing, insights into consumer trends, digital transformation and the establishment of business intelligence systems.—
Russell Flannery,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
-
But the main obstruction in that regard had been the reckless Justice Department policy of preventing intelligence agents and criminal investigators from communicating.—
Andrew C. McCarthy,
National Review,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star renowned for its Belle Époque grandeur, welcomed VIP Summit guests to a hospitality oasis in the lavish Prince Rainier III Suite filled with Louis XIII pours, small bites and exquisite city views.—
Forbes Travel Guide,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
-
For a limited time, orders of any breakfast sandwich, breakfast wrap, egg bites, bakes, lunch sandwiches or pockets will come with a free packet of Truff Original or Jalapeño Lime Hot Sauce.—
Erin Clements,
People.com,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
So my first piece of advice to young designers is to have that thirst to understand the business as a whole.—
Joelle Diderich,
WWD,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Soon after, my thirst for adventure grew, and my job provided me with opportunities to explore chilly waters around the world, turning it into my personal mission to tackle as many cold water swims as possible.—
Alexandra Pereira,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Max Homa, the six-time PGA Tour winner known for his razor-sharp wit and clutch performances on the course, has been going through a tough time lately.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Black Bag succeeds on its chilly wit, and on the cool, nervy appeal of its two stars.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Americans abroad may be less welcome and should practice cultural sensitivity.—
Christopher Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
-
It’s gotten to a point where this LeBron sensitivity is beyond the pale.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The dogs crowded at the edge of the cliff, barking around a small piñon that grew from a crack in the rocks.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
-
This is important because the solar wind ricochets around the bubble our solar system sits within, known as the heliosphere; the edges of that bubble represent the barrier between our cosmic neighborhood and the rest of the universe.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In addition, exposing millions of kids to less sweet (not to mention organic) drinks helps cultivate an appetite for less sweet drinks that can create long-term health benefits.—
Seth Goldman,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2025
-
However, to date, the US Congress has shown little appetite to oppose President Trump's policy priorities.—
Eric Berger,
Ars Technica,
7 Mar. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Keenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keenness. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share