acutely

/əˈkjuːtli/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈkjuːtli/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈkyüt-lē/ (ame, mw)

acutely — adverb

1. in a way that makes someone feel or notice something with great strength, often

1.副詞B2
釋義

in a way that makes someone feel or notice something with great strength, often when that feeling is uncomfortable or painful

例句

The villagers were acutely aware of the danger as the river rose higher each day.

acutely aware of [noun phrase]

Sofia felt acutely embarrassed when her phone rang loudly during the final exam.

同義詞
  • intensely

    focuses more on emotional or sensory strength; 'acutely' adds a sharper, more piercing quality

  • keenly

    emphasizes sharpness of perception; 'keenly' is slightly more active, 'acutely' more about passive awareness

  • deeply

    suggests emotional depth rather than sharpness; 'acutely' implies a more sudden or piercing feeling

  • profoundly

    more formal than 'acutely'; suggests far-reaching impact rather than immediate sharpness

反義詞
  • barely

    opposite of 'strongly' — something felt barely is hardly noticed at all

  • vaguely

    suggests unclear or weak awareness, the opposite of sharp, strong awareness

文法句型

acutely + adjective (acutely aware / acutely conscious / acutely sensitive)

verb + acutely (feel something acutely)

用法筆記

Commonly used with adjectives describing negative or urgent states such as 'aware', 'conscious', 'embarrassed', and 'sensitive'. It is rarely used with positive emotions — for example, 'acutely happy' sounds unnatural.

常見錯誤

❌I was acutely happy about the good news.
✅I was acutely aware of the risks involved in the project.
💡'acutely' is not used with positive emotions; it emphasizes strong awareness or discomfort, not joy.
❌She acutely ran to catch the bus.
✅She felt acutely embarrassed after tripping on the stairs.
💡'acutely' does not describe physical speed or actions; it describes the intensity of a feeling or awareness.

2. in a way that shows a particularly clear, intelligent, and sharp understanding o

2.副詞C1
釋義

in a way that shows a particularly clear, intelligent, and sharp understanding of a complex situation or subject

例句

The young lawyer acutely observed the weaknesses in the opposing side's argument.

acutely observe — verb of perception + analysis

Dr. Okafor acutely analysed the test results and identified a pattern that others had missed.

acutely analyse — verb of analysis

同義詞
  • shrewdly

    emphasizes practical judgment and smart decision-making; 'shrewdly' is more about street smarts, 'acutely' about intellectual clarity

  • astutely

    very close to 'acutely' in meaning; 'astutely' often highlights understanding people's motives, while 'acutely' focuses on general mental sharpness

  • perceptively

    stresses the ability to notice things others miss; 'perceptively' leans toward observation, 'acutely' toward analysis

  • sharply

    more informal; 'sharply' can also mean 'suddenly' or 'angrily', so it is less precise than 'acutely'

反義詞
  • dully

    suggests slow or unclear thinking, the opposite of sharp analysis

  • obtusely

    formal; describes someone who fails to understand what should be obvious

文法句型

acutely + verb (acutely observe / acutely analyse / acutely reason)

acutely + adjective (acutely detailed / acutely nuanced / acutely insightful)

用法筆記

Typically found in formal or academic writing rather than everyday conversation. Often describes intellectual work such as analysis, observation, reasoning, or reporting.

常見錯誤

❌She acutely cooked the dinner.
✅She acutely analysed the results of the experiment.
💡'acutely' in this sense cannot describe practical everyday actions; it belongs with intellectual or analytical activities.