sharp
7 synonyms and 27 antonyms for sharp, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Having a fine edge or point that can cut or pierce easily.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use sharp
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English scearp, going back to a Germanic root meaning "to cut" — the same ancient root that gave us "shear" and "scrape."
Full origin of sharp →Frequently asked questions
What does “sharp” mean?
The word “sharp” means having a fine edge or point that can cut or pierce easily. In plain terms, able to cut easily, or (of a person, pain, sound, or turn) intense, sudden, or keenly perceptive.
How do you pronounce “sharp”?
“Sharp” is pronounced shahp (/ʃɑɹp/ in IPA).
How do you use “sharp” in a sentence?
Here is “sharp” used in a sentence: “Be careful, that knife is very sharp.”
What is another word for “sharp”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sharp” include on the dot and precisely.
What is the opposite of “sharp”?
The opposite of “sharp” — its antonyms — are blunt, dull, dim, dim-witted and slow.
What part of speech is “sharp”?
Depending on how it is used, “sharp” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “sharp” come from?
The word “sharp” comes from Old English. From Old English scearp, going back to a Germanic root meaning "to cut" — the same ancient root that gave us "shear" and "scrape.".
Is “sharp” a common word?
“Sharp” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between sharp and flat?
In music, where the two are most often paired, a sharp raises a note by a semitone and a flat lowers it by a semitone. More generally, describing a blade, the opposite of sharp is blunt or dull rather than flat. So "flat" contrasts with sharp mainly in pitch, not in cutting edges.
What is the opposite of sharp?
For a knife or point, the opposite of sharp is blunt or dull, meaning it cannot cut or pierce easily. In other senses the opposite shifts: a sharp mind versus a slow one, a sharp image versus a blurry one, or a sharp bend versus a gentle one.
What are the different meanings of sharp?
Beyond a keen cutting edge, sharp has many senses. It can mean intelligent or quick-witted (a sharp mind), sudden or abrupt (a sharp turn), intense (a sharp pain), stylish (a sharp suit), or, in music, a note raised by a semitone. Context decides which meaning applies.
What is an example of something sharp?
A newly honed kitchen knife is sharp, slicing through food with little effort. A needle, a shard of glass, a razor blade, and a thorn are all sharp because they have a fine edge or point that can pierce skin. Sharpness is what lets them cut easily.