acuity
noun
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Do you have acuity or sensitivity?
Acuity is nearly synonymous with at least one sense of sensitivity, yet, as is so often the case with closely related words, there are subtle differences worth observing before you substitute one of these words for the other. Acuity does refer to a form of sensitivity, but it is most often applied to the perceptual senses (as in “visual acuity” or “auditory acuity”). It is also frequently used in reference to the intellect (as in “mental acuity”). Sensitivity has a broader range of meanings than acuity does, including “the capacity of being easily hurt.” It may be used of inanimate objects such as radios (“the sensitivity of the instruments was carefully calibrated”), a context in which acuity is unusual.
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Examples of acuity in a Sentence
Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
For the last time in their lives, the about-to-be Fabs had everything to prove and nothing to hide, and Braun reveals them with acuity and breathtaking honesty.
—The Week Us, theweek, 29 Oct. 2024
To measure improvement in vision acuity—the clarity or sharpness of vision—researchers used a classic eye chart.
—Emily Mullin, WIRED, 25 Oct. 2024
The former president’s mental acuity has been closely watched in the leadup to the election.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near acuity
Cite this Entry
“Acuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acuity. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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acuity
noun
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acuity
noun
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