KEEN Synonyms: 612 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'keen' contrast with its synonyms?

The words acute and sharp are common synonyms of keen . While all three words mean "having or showing alert competence and clear understanding," keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind. // a keen observer of the political scene

Q: In what contexts can 'acute' take the place of 'keen'?

The meanings of acute and keen largely overlap; however, acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination. // an acute sense of style

Q: When would 'sharp' be a good substitute for 'keen'?

While the synonyms sharp and keen are close in meaning, sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness. // sharp enough to spot a confidence game

keen 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkēn

Definition of keen next

as in sensitive

able to sense slight impressions or differences pilots with especially keen eyesight

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in biting

causing intense discomfort to one's skin the keen wind gave me chapped lips

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as in sharpened

having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something lanced the boil with a keen scalpel

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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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as in excellent

of the very best kind that new digital camera sure is keen

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as in excited

showing urgent desire or interest a keen hunger for fame and fortune in the fashion industry

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as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect movies gave him keen enjoyment like nothing else

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keen

2 of 3

noun

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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keen

3 of 3

verb

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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as in to howl

to make a long loud mournful sound mourners keening for the victims of the bombing

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective keen contrast with its synonyms?

The words acute and sharp are common synonyms of keen. While all three words mean "having or showing alert competence and clear understanding," keen suggests quickness, enthusiasm, and a penetrating mind.

a keen observer of the political scene

In what contexts can acute take the place of keen?

The meanings of acute and keen largely overlap; however, acute implies a power to penetrate and may suggest subtlety and sharpness of discrimination.

an acute sense of style

When would sharp be a good substitute for keen?

While the synonyms sharp and keen are close in meaning, sharp implies quick perception, clever resourcefulness, or sometimes questionable trickiness.

sharp enough to spot a confidence game

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of keen

Adjective

In her first column, Meaghan Garvey reflects on the late David Lynch, director, musician, weatherman, and keen observer of darkness and light. —

Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2025 Italian mob boss Stefano Marchetti (Tony Danza), who has teamed up with Raq and therefore her son, too, doesn't seem too keen to work with the teen. —

Julia Moore, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025

Noun

For those keen to explore the country deeper and differently, Vinho Verde awaits. —

Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 25 Jan. 2023 For those keen on camping, this portable, self-inflating tent is designed to be water- and weather-resistant. —

Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 9 Jan. 2023

Verb

However, by the second movement, Kavakos’s violin keened a melancholy, aria-esque melody in iridescent threads of sound, answered in turn by a cool flute. —

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023 In these wondrously transporting images of juddering waves and swirling particles, accompanied by the rumbling, surging, keening strains of Ludwig Göransson’s magnificent score, Nolan makes a rare leap into realms of pure cinematic abstraction. —

Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for keen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keen

Adjective

The suit filed Tuesday is the second from a religious group to challenge the Trump administration's lifting of the sensitive locations policy.

— Sarah Ventre, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025
What To Know Engelmayer is responsible for a Saturday ruling that blocked Musk and his DOGE allies from accessing sensitive Treasury records.

— Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025