I have a sharp pain in my chest.
Source: tatoeba (18953)
Sharp
/ʃɑːp/
Synonyms for "sharp" (847 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (170)
ableabruptabruptlyabsonantabsorbingaccidentalaccuratelyacerbacerbateacerbicacicularacidacidicacidulentacidulousacridacrimoniousacuminateacuteadept
Show 118 more words
admirable crichtonadroitadventureraffectingafflictiveaggressiveagileagonizingakimboalacritousalertalertlyalgidaliveall at onceall of a suddenamaroidalanalyticangularaptarcharcticarguteartfulartisanartistasperousastringentastuteat the gunatonalatrociousattacheattentiveattentivelyatticaustereauthorityawakebangbearishbeastlybelow zerobentbetting ringbettorbitingbitterbitter as gallbitterly coldbleakbluffbluntboldboneshakerborealbrainybrashbrawbreakneckbrevebrightbrilliantbriskbrumalbrusquebunco artistbunco steerercacophonouscageycalculatingcannycardsharkcardsharpcardsharpercarefullycarpetbaggercausticcavaliercheerlesschicchiselingchurlishclassyclearcleverclothes consciousclothes-consciouscoarsecoldcold as charitycold as deathcold as icecold as marblecollusivecomfortlesscompulsive gamblercon artistcon manconfidence manconnaisseurconnoisseurconsultantcordon bleucorneredcorrodingcorrosivecosmopolitancovinouscrack shotcrackedcraftsmancraftycrampingcrap shootercreakycrimpcrisp
Adjective(22 words)
Noun(8 words)
Adverb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (254)
Adjective(18 words)
crispycutting edge equipmentdiscriminatingdressed to a teeeconomic contractioneideticembitteredflintierfocusedgarlickyincisivekeenkeenerkeenestkickyknifelikelancelikeneedlelike
crookedcrotchedcrotchetcruelcrustycunningcurtcuspidatecutecuttingdapperdashdashingdead shotdeceitfuldeepdeep-feltdeep-laiddeepgoingdemisemiquaver
Show 199 more words
deplorabledepressingdepressivedesigningdexterousdiaphonicdiplomatdiplomaticdiplomatistdiscomfortingdisconsonantdiscordantdisharmonicdisharmoniousdishonestdismaldismayingdispatchfuldissonantdistinctdistressfuldistressingdolorificdolorogenicdolorousdominantdominant notedouble edgeddouble whole notedouble-edgeddrasticdrearydressed to advantagedressed to killdressydrillingdrollear piercingear-piercingear-splittingedgeedgedeighth noteelder statesmanelegantenharmonicenharmonic noteescharoticexactlyexcessiveexcruciatingexorbitantexpeditiousexperienced handexpertexpert consultantexquisiteextravagantextremefacetiousfalsefalseheartedfashionablefastfeatheredgedfelinefiercefinaglingfineflatflyforkedfoxyfraudulentfreezingfreezing coldfrigidfunnyfurcalfurcatefuriousfurtivegamblergamestergelidgeniculategeniculatedgenteelgiftedglacialgnawinggraduategratinggravegreatgrievousgripinggruffguilefulhalf notehandy manhardharrowingharshhastilyhazarderheadlongheartfelthemidemisemiquaverhephibernalhiemalhighhigh-pitchedhomefelthonehookedhorse coperhorse traderhothowlinghumoroushumorsomehurtfulhurtinghyperboreanice coldice-coldice-encrustedicelikeicyimmelodiousimmoderateimpetuouslyimpulsivelyincisiveinclementinconsiderateindelibleindirectingeniousinharmonicinharmoniousinsidiousintelligentintemperateintenseinventiveirritatingjacklegjaggedjauntyjestingjocosejocularjokingjokyjoshingjourneymanjoylessjudicialjustkeenkeen-edgedkeen-wittedkeeningknee-shapedknifelikeknowingknowledgeablelamentableland pirateland sharkland-grabberlike a flashlike a thunderboltloudluminousmachiavellianmachiavellicmaliciousmalignantmarkedmarksmanminimmordaciousmordantmortgage sharkmournfulmovingmusical notemusiclessnarrownastynattynaturalneatneedleneedle-sharp
Noun(12 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Adverb(1 words)
Adverb(1 words)
mentally alert learner
Related words (423)
niceniftynimblenimble wittednimble-wittednippingnippyno dumbbellno slouchnobbynonmelodiousnose ticklingnose-piercingnose-ticklingnot born yesterdaynotenumbingobservantodorousof a sudden
Show 336 more words
offoff keyoff-keyoff-toneon short noticeon theon the alerton the ballon the buttonon the doton the instanton the jobon the minuteon the noseon timeoriginalout of pitchout of toneout of tuneoutrageouspainfulparalyzingparoxysmalpatent notepatheticpawkypeakedpeakypenetratingperceptivepervadingpettifoggerpetty gamblerpiercingpikerpinchingpipingpiquantpitchmanpiteouspitiableplayerplopplumpplungerplungingplunkpoignantpointedpoisonouspoliticpoliticianpopposhprecipitantlyprecipitatelyprecipitousprecipitouslypreciselyproprofessionalprofessorproficientprofoundpromptpunctuallypungentpunterquarter notequaverqui vivequickquick wittedquick-thinkingquick-wittedrackingracyrapidrapier-likeraucousrawrazor-edgedreadyreceptiverecherchereedyreekingregrettablereportresourcefulresponding noteresponsiverightrigorousritzyroughruefulsadsaddeningsaltsaltysarcasticsardonicsavantsaw toothedsaw-toothedsawtoothscathingschemingscintillatingscorchingscreakyscreechingscreechysemibrevesemiquaversensitiveserpentineserratesetsevereshallshaped notesharksharp eyedsharp-corneredsharp-sightedsharp-wittedsharpensharpenedsharpersharpiesharplysheershiftyshootingshortshortchangershrewdshriekingshriekyshrillshystersiberiansixteenth notesixty-fourth noteslapsleeksleeplesssleetyslickslickerslipperyslushyslysmacksmack-dabsmartsmoothsmugsnakysnappishsnappysnazzysneakysnippysoignesoigneesophisticalsophisticatedsoresorrowfulsourspangsparklingspasmaticspasmicspasmodicspeculatorspeedyspiccatospicyspielerspiffyspiritedspitefulsplittingsportsporting mansportsmansportysprightlysprucesprysquaresquarelysqueakingsqueakystabbingstaccatostartlinglystatesmanstealthysteel-trapsteepstingingstone coldstone-coldstrategicstrictstridentstringentstrongstrong-scentedstrong-smellingstyle-consciousstylishsubtilesubtlesubzerosuddensuddenlysuffocatingsupercooledsupplesurlysurprisinglysurreptitioussustained noteswankswankyswellswiftswishtacticaltalentedtangytarttechnical advisertechniciantercetthinthirty-second notethoughtlesstinhorntipsterto the minutetonetonictonytormentingtorturoustouchingtoughtouttreacheroustrebletrenchanttrendytrickishtricksytrickytriflingtrigtrimtriplettruculenttunelesstwo facedtwo-edgedtwo-facedululantunawaresunblinkingunceremoniousuncomfortableunconscionableunderhandunderhandedunethicalunexpectedlyungraciousunharmoniousunkindunmelodiousunmusicalunnoddingunscrupulousunsleepinguntunableuntuneduntunefulunwinkingv shapedv-shapedvehementvenomousventurerverticalvigilantviolentvirulentvitriolicvividvulpinewagererwailingwakefulwarywaspishwell dressedwell-dressedwell-groomedwhetwhimsicalwhiningwhistlingwhole notewide awakewide-awakewilywinterboundwinterlikewinterywintrywisewitheringwithout noticewithout warningwittywoebegonewoefulwretchedy shapedy-shapedzigzag
Adjective(38 words)
nimblestpenetratingpenetrativepepperypiercingpoignant scenepointiestpointypotentprecipitousprecipitous changepunchiestscathing reviewsharp-wordedshrewdshrillsnappishsnarkiersnippiersnippiest
Adverb(2 words)
on the dotprecisely
Noun(23 words)
peakingpencil jabpiercingpiercing glarepinprickpiquingplunkingpointedprickingraised pitchrazorlikeretortingsemitone higher noteseverelysharpyshrewdsmart onesudden stopping motiontartertrickster
Show 3 more words
Adverb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: able, abrupt, abrupt, abrupt movement, abrupt silence.
- Sentence evidence is available for sharp, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "sharp".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "sharp"
Keep "sharp" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "sharp" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "sharp", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "sharp" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesadverbcognitionedge qualityintelligenceintensitymanner adverbmental abilitymusical notationmusical noteperceptionpersonpropertyqualitysensory qualitysewing needle
More specific
15 entriesC sharpD sharpF sharpabruptlyanalytical thinkingbunco artistcard sharpkeenlyknife-edgelogical deductionpinprickrapid inferencerazor edgeseverelystabbing pain
Collocations
13 entriesC sharpD sharpF sharpmusical noteraised pitchsharp contrastsharp edgesharp increasesharp knifesharp mindsharp notesharp painsharp turn
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesAntonyms
3 entriessimilar
35 entriesShowing 16 of 35 words.
Translations
40 translations across 31 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- սուր adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Bulgarian
1 entries- резлив adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Czech
1 entries- ostrý adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Dutch
2 entries- sterk adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- straf adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Esperanto
1 entries- akra adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Estonian
1 entries- terav adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Finnish
2 entries- kipakka adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- kirpeä adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
French
1 entries- âcre adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
German
1 entries- scharf adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Greek
1 entries- αψύς adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Hebrew
1 entries- חָרִיף adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Hindi
2 entries- तीखा adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- तीव्र adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Irish
2 entries- géar adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- searbh adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Italian
2 entries- acre adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- intenso adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Latvian
2 entries- asa adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- ass adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Lower Sorbian
1 entries- wótšy adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Macedonian
1 entries- остар adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Māori
1 entries- kakati adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Ottoman Turkish
1 entries- كسكین adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Persian
1 entries- تند adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Polish
1 entries- ostry adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Portuguese
1 entries- acre adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Russian
2 entries- е́дкий adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- о́стрый adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Sanskrit
1 entries- तिग्म adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Scottish Gaelic
2 entries- geur adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- searbh adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Slovene
1 entries- oster adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Spanish
1 entries- agrio adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Swedish
1 entries- skarp adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Turkish
1 entries- keskin adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Ukrainian
2 entries- го́стрий adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
- різки́й adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Upper Sorbian
1 entries- wótry adj (having an intense, acrid flavour)
Sample sentences
76 total sentences available.
There was a sharp rise in prices last year.
Source: tatoeba (19419)
The meeting began at nine o'clock sharp.
Source: tatoeba (22441)
The meeting will start at four o'clock sharp.
Source: tatoeba (22444)
Showing 4 of 76 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "sharp"?
Closest matches include able, abrupt, abrupt, abrupt movement, abrupt silence.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "sharp"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.