acutely
Americanadverb
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having a sharp, severe, or intense effect.
Reductions in the workforce will be felt most acutely by those in entry-level jobs.
Compounds formed by reaction with the contaminant create the potential for formation of acutely toxic products.
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having an extremely great or serious effect; critically.
The Iberian lynx is considered the most acutely endangered species of wildcat.
-
happening briefly or severely; happening at a single point in time (opposed tochronically ).
The report describes a patient presenting acutely with mental symptoms of confusion and hallucinations.
We studied the effects of field-realistic doses of the herbicide on honeybees exposed either chronically or acutely.
-
in a way that is intellectually penetrating or insightful; perceptively.
In this acutely focused exhibition, the artist delves deeply into a single object: her kitchen sink.
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in a way that is sensitive to even slight details or impressions.
The orchestra matched the inspirational conductor beautifully, interacting and responding acutely.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of acutely
Explanation
Use the adverb acutely to mean sharply or intensely. If your teacher reads your poem in front of the entire class, you may feel proud — or you might be acutely embarrassed. In medicine, acutely is used to emphasize the seriousness of a condition or injury: "She is acutely allergic to antibiotics, so be sure to write that on her chart." Otherwise, you can use this adverb for anything that's especially vivid, like when you're acutely aware that everyone in the room is staring at your purple hat, or intensely unpleasant, like your little brother's acutely annoying whine. The Latin root, acutus, means "sharp or pointed."
Vocabulary lists containing acutely
They Called Us Enemy
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Earthquake Terror
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Kwame Crashes the Underworld
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For the first time, growers in one of California’s most acutely water-stressed areas have to reveal how much groundwater they are pumping.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
“California is the state where the supply pinch is being felt first, and I would say most acutely, and it’s flowed through all the way to the street,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026
The broader market rally, which has left consensus earnings forecasts for the next 12 months near the highest levels on record, remains acutely focused on tech.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
“This leaves crude acutely sensitive to any gyrations in the geopolitical narrative, which traders know come fast and furious,” he said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
The chaplain was acutely conscious of the faint noise his footsteps made as he approached.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
