acuter; acutest
1
a(1)
: characterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset
acute pain
(2)
: of rapid onset and relatively short duration
acute illness
see also acute disease
(3)
: being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for acute disease or traumatic injury)
acute hospitals
an acute patient
b
: lasting a short time
acute experiments
2
: ending in a sharp point: such as
a
: being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees
an acute angle
b
: composed of acute angles
an acute triangle
3
a
of an accent mark
: having the form ´
b
: marked with an acute accent
c
: of the variety indicated by an acute accent
4
a
: marked by keen discernment or intellectual perception especially of subtle distinctions
an acute thinker
b
: responsive to slight impressions or stimuli
acute hearing
5
: felt, perceived, or experienced intensely
acute distress
6
: demanding urgent attention
an acute emergency
acutely
adverb
acuteness
noun
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Ways to Be Acute
For such a short and simple-looking word, acute has a rather bewildering range of meanings. It first entered the English language with a medical sense, referring to the sharpness or severity of a symptom. It retains this meaning today, but can also refer to the severity of more general matters, such as "acute embarrassment" or "an acute shortage."
Acute is also frequently used to describe less troublesome matters, such as keenness of perception ("an acute observer" or "an acute sense of smell"), a type of angle (one measuring less than 90 degrees), or the demand for urgent attention ("acute danger").
Synonyms
Examples of acute in a Sentence
an acute sense of humor
It's a politically acute film that does not oversimplify the issues.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the years since, losses in some places have neared 20% — and were particularly acute following a massive flood event in 2019.
—
Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
To address the acute issues at hand, the Day 1 Fund generally supports organizations that offer emergency or other temporary shelter to specific families.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
The Republican's gains with nonwhites was particularly acute among Hispanic and Latino voters.
—G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2024
But economic pain — inflation, a lack of affordable housing, sticker shock when filling gas tanks and grocery carts, fears about steady employment and sustainable wages that can support their families — is acute in conversations with voters in Nevada.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for acute 
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Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
To address the acute issues at hand, the Day 1 Fund generally supports organizations that offer emergency or other temporary shelter to specific families.
—Phoebe Liu, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
The Republican's gains with nonwhites was particularly acute among Hispanic and Latino voters.
—G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2024
But economic pain — inflation, a lack of affordable housing, sticker shock when filling gas tanks and grocery carts, fears about steady employment and sustainable wages that can support their families — is acute in conversations with voters in Nevada.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for acute
Dictionary Entries Near acute
Cite this Entry
“Acute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acute. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
acute
adjective
acuter; acutest
1
a
: severe sense 3, sharp
acute pain
b
: having a sudden onset and short duration
acute disease
2
: being or forming an angle measuring less than 90 degrees
an acute angle
3
4
: needing speedy attention : urgent
an acute shortage of blood plasma
5
: felt or experienced intensely
acute distress
acutely
adverb
acuteness
noun
Medical Definition
acute
adjective1
: sensing or perceiving accurately, clearly, effectively, or sensitively
acute vision
2
a
: characterized by sharpness or severity of sudden onset
acute pain brought on by injury
an acute infection
b(1)
: of rapid onset and relatively short duration
acute illness
an acute inflammation
see also acute disease compare chronic entry 1 sense 2a
(2)
: being, providing, or requiring short-term medical care (as for an acute disease or traumatic injury) : acute care
an acute hospital
acute patients
c
: lasting a short time
Most studies of the efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of children and adolescents with major depression or anxiety disorders are acute studies, generally ranging in length from eight to 12 weeks.—Karen Dineen Wagner, Psychiatric Times
Karen Dineen Wagner, Psychiatric Times
acutely
adverb
Since the patient's ocular symptoms had acutely worsened, he underwent immediate surgery …
—Jae Yong Lee, The New England Journal of Medicine
Jae Yong Lee, The New England Journal of Medicine
acuteness
noun
A triage nurse determines the acuteness of the patient's problem and coordinates the order for treatment, providing immediate care to critically ill or injured patients and efficient care to those less seriously ill.
—Ridgecrest Regional Hospital
Ridgecrest Regional Hospital
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