1
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
pilots with especially keen eyesight
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2
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
the keen wind gave me chapped lips
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3
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
lanced the boil with a keen scalpel
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4
as in quick
having or showing quickness of mind
readers who were keen enough to realize that the writer was being satirical
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5
as in excellent
of the very best kind
that new digital camera sure is keen
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6
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest
a keen hunger for fame and fortune in the fashion industry
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7
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
movies gave him keen enjoyment like nothing else
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as in wail
a crying out in grief
the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city
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1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of keen
Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
Monet’s Impressionist work, included in LACMA’s permanent collection, has long been an inspiration to Thater — one that Govan is keen to point out.
—Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
New Atlas, 19 May 2026
The song finds Abstract continuing to explore the contours of indie and alternative rock, with a simmering lo-fi guitar riff that gives way to the uneasy keen of a synth.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
He’s been lauded for sounding like a vestige of another age — his supple, keening tenor the result of years of apprenticeship to the Pakistani artists Ustad Saami and Farida Khanum.
—Emily Lordi Philip Cheung, New York Times, 10 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for keen
Adjective
But fans will also be undoubtedly keen to know if a certain Austen heroine is getting her second installment.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
Monet’s Impressionist work, included in LACMA’s permanent collection, has long been an inspiration to Thater — one that Govan is keen to point out.
—Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
Noun
The keen-eyed among our readers will notice that the ROG glasses are largely the same inside and out as the Xreal One Pro, which cost $649.
—New Atlas, 19 May 2026
The song finds Abstract continuing to explore the contours of indie and alternative rock, with a simmering lo-fi guitar riff that gives way to the uneasy keen of a synth.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2023
Verb
The sport's powerhouse India did not want to host another event, with Zimbabwe - emerging as a destination for major tournaments - and Sri Lanka keen but bypassed for the UAE, a reliable alternative that doubles as headquarters for the sport's governing body.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
He’s been lauded for sounding like a vestige of another age — his supple, keening tenor the result of years of apprenticeship to the Pakistani artists Ustad Saami and Farida Khanum.
—Emily Lordi Philip Cheung, New York Times, 10 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for keen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keen
Adjective
-
Exfoliating sensitive skin, like mine, is a delicate dance.—
Christina Oehler,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
-
With that in mind, the experts advise introducing the formula gradually, especially for those with sensitive skin.—
Rosa Jisoo Pyo,
Vogue,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
2 May 2026
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The tracks are more vulnerable, biting, and self-aware than ever, and in some cases, feature lyrics pulled right out of Hjelt’s diary.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The area The property sits in the Anambas archipelago, an 80-minute flight from Batam, an Indonesian island that’s a quick boat ride from Singapore.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
In Campbell’s experience, the learning curve for padel is quicker than pickleball.—
Mindy Sink,
Denver Post,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Seb Stafford-Bloor’s excellent Transfer Tiers series is moving on to central defenders today.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
The right-shot defenseman has had an excellent tournament for Finland, who advanced to the semifinals with a win over Czechia.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Susan Gans, who leads SoCal Tandem Riders, was excited that, among a gathering of seniors and middle-aged folks, a young couple joined.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
1 June 2026
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Kids who used to run to the field excited to play, suddenly started loafing to the field wearing their crocs with their heads buried in their phones.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
But today’s wars of words seem designed to fuel intense polarization, not to change minds.—
Lisa Pavia-Higel,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
-
Big tech giants including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have prioritized growing their chips business to rely less on AI chipmaker Nvidia, who reported a strong first quarter last week, even as competition is getting more intense from rivals including Advanced Micro Devices and Broadcom.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Noun
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Three species of bats inhabit the site, and supernatural events—including the appearance of the gamekeeper’s ghost and the wail of a banshee—have been reported.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
22 May 2026
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The wail of fire trucks can be heard as passersby stopped to record the scene.—
Francie Ebert,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, a parent of an underage Vibe customer also complained to authorities that his 17-year-old son and his son's friend were able to purchase kratom products with a fake ID and, at times, without an ID at all.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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Residents near the Plaskolite site have long complained about odors from the plant, according to an air monitoring study sponsored by the state.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Keen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keen. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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