1
Core quality
Severe, intense, sharp, or highly perceptive; in medicine, sudden and short-term rather than chronic.
Example
The region faces an acute water shortage.
acute
/əˈkjuːt/ · uh-KYOOTadjective
Severe, intense, sharp, or highly perceptive; in medicine, sudden and short-term rather than chronic.
Use acute to express this relationship precisely: severe, intense, sharp, or highly perceptive; in medicine, sudden and short-term rather than chronic.
What acute Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
She experienced acute pain after the injury.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
His acute observations exposed the flaw.
Use acute Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The region faces an acute water shortage.
She experienced acute pain after the injury.
His acute observations exposed the flaw.
Precision Matters
Acute overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
acute
vs.Means severe, intense, sharp, or highly perceptive; in medicine, sudden and short-term rather than chronic.
subtle
Means delicate, understated, or difficult to notice, understand, or distinguish immediately.
acute
vs.Means severe, intense, sharp, or highly perceptive; in medicine, sudden and short-term rather than chronic.
modest
Means limited or moderate in size, amount, ambition, or importance; also, not boastful about oneself.
acute
vs.Means severe, intense, sharp, or highly perceptive; in medicine, sudden and short-term rather than chronic.
trivial
Means of little importance or consequence.
acute
vs.Means severe, intense, sharp, or highly perceptive; in medicine, sudden and short-term rather than chronic.
overwhelming
Means extremely intense, powerful, large, or convincing; difficult to resist or manage.
Test acute in Context
The shortage is severe, urgent, and intense.
1
After months without rain, the village faced an ___ shortage of drinking water.