Word
sharpness
Phoneticssharp·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃɑɹpnəs/
UK/ʃˈɑːpnəs/
Definitions
01cutting ability
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. how well a tool like a knife or scissors can cut through things.
n. the cutting ability of an edge or the keenness of a blade.
“He tested the sharpness of the kitchen knife by slicing a tomato.”
“The chef insisted on maintaining the sharpness of his carbon-steel blades through daily honing on a fine-grit whetstone.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02visual clarity
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. how clear and easy to see the details in a picture or photo are.
n. the degree of distinctness or focus in an image or sensory perception.
“The sharpness of the photo was amazing even when I zoomed in.”
“Digital post-processing can enhance the perceived sharpness of a photograph, though it cannot recover details lost to poor lens focus.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03mental quickness
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the ability to think quickly and understand difficult ideas.
n. acuteness of mind or the ability to perceive and understand subtle distinctions.
“Even at ninety years old, her mental sharpness was impressive.”
“The cross-examination required a high degree of mental sharpness to identify the inconsistencies in the witness's testimony.”
Synonyms
04strong taste or smell
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. a strong, sour, or stinging taste or smell.
n. the quality of being pungent, acidic, or biting to the senses of taste or smell.
“The sharpness of the lemon juice balanced the sweet cake.”
“Aged cheddar is prized for a characteristic sharpness that develops during the long fermentation process.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
05harshness of tone
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. a quality in someone's voice or words that sounds angry or unkind.
n. the quality of being harsh, biting, or severe in speech or manner.
“She was surprised by the sharpness in his voice when he answered.”
“The critic's review was noted for its unnecessary sharpness, attacking the author's character rather than the work itself.”
Antonyms
Usage
Often used with 'of' to describe a specific object or trait ('the sharpness of the image').
Real-World Examples
“He is woefully short of minutes for his club, Bournemouth, and lacks sharpness and ruthlessness as a consequence.” “NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has successfully activated its 300-megapixel infrared camera, which will capture enormous stretches of the cosmos with Hubble-like sharpness.” Etymology
From Middle English sharpnesse, scharpnesse, from Old English sċearpnes (“sharpness”), equivalent to sharp + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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