acute

/əˈkjuːt/adjective

Very strong, keen, or sharp in effect or perception.

Example sentences

“He felt an acute pain in his lower back after lifting the box.”
“Dogs have an acute sense of smell that helps rescuers find lost hikers.”

In medicine, acute is the opposite of chronic: an acute illness comes on suddenly and is short-lived, not necessarily severe.

Synonyms for acute

severe
intense
sharp
keen

Antonyms

mild
dull

Related words

chronicLasting for a long time or coming back again and again, used of problems or illnesses.terminalThe building at an airport where travelers move between ground transport and their flights.benignNot cancerous; describing a growth or condition that will not spread or threaten your health.diseaseA condition that makes a person, animal, or plant unwell or stops it working properly, unlike an injury, which usually happens in an instant.malignantDescribing a tumor or disease that is cancerous, grows quickly, and can spread to other parts of the body.germA tiny living thing, such as a bacterium or virus, that can cause illness.