Acute Word Meaning

late Middle English (describing a disease or its symptoms): from Latin acutus, past participle of acuere ‘sharpen’, from acus ‘needle’

(of an unpleasant or unwelcome situation or phenomenon) present or experienced to a severe or intense degree

severe/intense

• an acute housing shortage
• the problem is acute and getting worse

having or showing a perceptive understanding or insight; shrewd

perceptive

• an acute awareness of changing fashions

(of an angle) less than 90°.

of angle

(of a sound) high; shrill.

shrill

accent