Synonym Chooser

How does the noun acumen differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of acumen are discernment, discrimination, insight, penetration, and perception. While all these words mean "a power to see what is not evident to the average mind," acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment.

a director of reliable box-office acumen

When would discernment be a good substitute for acumen?

The words discernment and acumen are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art).

the discernment to know true friends

When is it sensible to use discrimination instead of acumen?

While the synonyms discrimination and acumen are close in meaning, discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent.

the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music

When is insight a more appropriate choice than acumen?

The meanings of insight and acumen largely overlap; however, insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy.

a documentary providing insight into the plight of the homeless

When could penetration be used to replace acumen?

The words penetration and acumen can be used in similar contexts, but penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial.

lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles

When might perception be a better fit than acumen?

The synonyms perception and acumen are sometimes interchangeable, but perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling).

a novelist of keen perception into human motives

Examples of acumen in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web Marquez will help the magazine triple down on that mission, thanks to her fashion acumen and a high-level of L.A. style institutional knowledge. Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2022 The Eagles opening the season 8-0 for the first time in franchise history which is due in part to his football acumen and talent. Mohammad Ahmad, cleveland, 9 Dec. 2022 Lon Morey — who runs Morbark, another wood chipper company — had been recognized by Northwood for his business acumen and support, and helped the university set up a meeting. Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2022 Iger is widely considered entertainment industry royalty, celebrated for his management acumen and creative chops. Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 21 Nov. 2022 See all Example Sentences for acumen 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acumen
Noun
  • In the final weeks, U.S. intelligence officials have attributed to Russia multiple fake videos alleging election fraud in presidential swing states.
    Chris Morris, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Russia, in particular, has been pushing false conspiracies that election officials are coordinating fraud, intelligence officials said.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • And then there is the post-Jaws monster movie, where the macho act of pulling out the big guns doesn’t work — as evidenced by Alien, Independence Day, Cloverfield — and the monster has to be tackled by wits alone.
    David Colman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Oct. 2024
  • The special also is being billed as non-partisan, but Williams’ The Last Word became known for his wit and sharp analysis, spotlighting major journalists as guests at the end of a day’s news cycle.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • For this story, our PEOPLE team relied on insights from a variety of testers, including women from ages 23 to 64, with heights ranging from 5-foot-1 to 6 feet tall and sizes from 2 to 22.
    Cai Cramer, People.com, 30 Oct. 2024
  • But the most interesting insight came from the company’s subsequent earnings call.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near acumen

Cite this Entry

“Acumen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acumen. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on acumen

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