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   acute

   /əˈkjuːt/

   adjective

   • 1. (of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree: "an acute housing shortage" Similar severecriticaldrasticdiredreadfulterribleawfulgravebadseriousprofoundurgentpressingdesperateall-importantvitaldangeroushazardousperilousprecariouslife-threateninglife-and-deatharchaic:parlousrare:egregiousOpposite negligible
   • ▪ (of a disease or its symptoms) severe but of short duration: "acute appendicitis" Similar stabbingshootingpenetratingpiercingsharpkeenrackingsearingburningconsumingfierceferociousintensesevereextremeexcruciatingagonizinggrievoushellishtorturoustormentingunbearableinsufferableunendurablemore than one can bearmore than flesh and blood can standliterary:exquisitesevereintenseshort-lastingperacuteinformal:short and sharpOpposite dullmildchronic
   • ▪ denoting or designed for patients with an acute form of a disease: "an acute ward"
   • 2. having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd: "an acute awareness of changing fashions" Similar astuteshrewdsharpsharp-wittedrazor-sharprapier-likequickquick-wittedagilenimbleingeniouscleverintelligentbrightbrilliantsmartcannyintuitivediscerningperceptiveperspicaciouspenetratinginsightfulincisivepiercingdiscriminatingsagaciouswisejudiciousinformal:on the ballquick off the markquick on the uptakebrainystreetwisesavvysusspawkyheads-upwhip-smartdated, informal:long-headedrare:argutesapientOpposite slow-witted
   • ▪ (of a physical sense or faculty) highly developed; keen: "an acute sense of smell" Similar keensharpgoodpenetratingdiscerningperceptivesensitivesubtleOpposite poor
   • 3. (of an angle) less than 90°.
   • ▪ having a sharp end; pointed.
   • 4. (of a sound) high; shrill.

   noun

   • 1. short for acute accent

   Word Origin late Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. acuteness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • A

     1

   • C

     3

   • U

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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