acute
adjective
[ əˈkjuːt ]
• (of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree.
• "an acute housing shortage"
Similar:
severe,
critical,
drastic,
dire,
dreadful,
terrible,
awful,
grave,
bad,
serious,
profound,
urgent,
pressing,
desperate,
all-important,
vital,
dangerous,
hazardous,
perilous,
precarious,
life-threatening,
life-and-death,
parlous,
egregious,
• having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd.
• "an acute awareness of changing fashions"
Similar:
astute,
shrewd,
sharp,
sharp-witted,
razor-sharp,
rapier-like,
quick,
quick-witted,
agile,
nimble,
ingenious,
clever,
intelligent,
bright,
brilliant,
smart,
canny,
intuitive,
discerning,
perceptive,
perspicacious,
penetrating,
insightful,
incisive,
piercing,
discriminating,
sagacious,
wise,
judicious,
on the ball,
quick off the mark,
quick on the uptake,
brainy,
streetwise,
savvy,
suss,
pawky,
heads-up,
whip-smart,
long-headed,
argute,
sapient,
• (of an angle) less than 90°.
• (of a sound) high; shrill.
acute
noun
• short for acute accent.
Origin:
late Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’.
