acute

Adjective

• of critical importance and consequence
  • an acute (or critical) lack of research funds
    

• ending in a sharp point

• of an angle; less than 90 degrees

• having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
  • an acute observer of politics and politicians
    
  • incisive comments
    
  • icy knifelike reasoning
    
  • as sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
    
  • penetrating insight
    
  • frequent penetrative observations
    

• extremely sharp or intense
  • acute pain
    
  • felt acute annoyance
    
  • intense itching and burning
    

• having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
  • acute appendicitis
    
  • the acute phase of the illness
    
  • acute patients
    

Noun

• a mark (') placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  acuate , sharp , needlelike , discriminating , incisive , keen , knifelike , penetrating , penetrative , piercing , intense , acute accent , ague
• Antonyms: 
  obtuse , chronic