keenness

noun

Definition of keennessnext
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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keenness
  1. enthusiasm
  2. intelligence
  3. bite
  4. thirst
  5. wit
  6. sensitivity
  7. edge
  8. appetite
Noun
  • After a standoff between Indian and Chinese troops on the border in 2017, New Delhi moved to revive the Quad despite not showing much enthusiasm when the partnership was founded in 2007.
    Harsh V. Pant, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Despite meeting more than 10 external leaders, the CEO ultimately promoted their operations director due to a long-standing, trusting relationship and the internal candidate’s sincere enthusiasm for the role.
    Gina Riley, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of enthusiasm
Noun
  • Today, such a contest would be made all the more unpredictable given the complexity and ambiguity of measuring progress toward something so abstract as intelligence.
    Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
  • The second episode illustrates the scope of the resources and intelligence operation required to identify and attempt to hunt him down.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024
Definition of intelligence
Noun
  • The goal is to achieve a juicy look, characterized by an imprecise and slightly smudged application, reminiscent of the resulting lip tint after taking a bite of fruit.
    Beatrice Zocchi, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Light bites accompany the tasting, enhancing the experience.
    Shivani Vora, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Or maybe your thirst for wine knowledge rivals your thirst for wine.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 2024
  • For all my thirst for ghost stories as a kid, the ghost-hunting fad that came later never really captured my imagination in the same way.
    Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • This is an authorized telling, written with the participation of its subject, who contributes comments with restrained candor and wry, arch wit.
    David Hajdu, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024
  • The women in my family are known for their wit and their grit, but not exactly their warmth and sensitivity.
    Blake Cale, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2024
Definition of wit
Noun
  • The results point to Asian Americans’ sensitivity to the issue of crime and safety due to the uptick of anti-Asian hate during the height of the pandemic that many feel went unaddressed, experts say.
    Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Days after, Karter still had a headache, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and noise.
    Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Definition of sensitivity
Noun
  • Greg Alder has had great success growing raspberries on the eastern edge of large trees.
    Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024
  • Ribbons marked the edge of the area that will be logged.
    April Ehrlich, ProPublica, 12 Nov. 2024
Definition of edge
Noun
  • London’s top law firms hired partners at record speed this year, driven by American law firms’ appetite to compete for talent in the British capital.
    Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 5 Nov. 2024
  • But advocates remain nervous given the GOP’s appetite for other anti-LGBTQ+ policies, such as bills blocking gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
    Kate Sosin, Them, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of appetite
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near keenness

keenly

keenness

keens

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Cite this Entry

“Keenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keenness. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on keenness

Nglish: Translation of keenness for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of keenness for Arabic Speakers

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