Keen vs. Sharp — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
Keen refers to an intense or eager quality, often of the mind or senses, while sharp often describes a fine edge or point, or a sudden or acute quality.
Difference Between Keen and Sharp
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Keen can describe an eagerness or enthusiasm, as in a keen interest in a subject, implying intensity and depth of emotion or interest. Sharp, in contrast, often refers to physical attributes such as the edge of a knife or the quality of an image or sound, being clear and distinct.
While both keen and sharp can refer to acuteness, in keen, it is more about acuity of mental or sensory faculties, like a keen intellect or keen eyesight, suggesting a heightened ability. Sharp can also mean acute or intense in non-physical contexts, like a sharp rebuke, but it generally has a brisk, sometimes harsh quality to it.
In metaphorical uses, a keen person is typically one who is quick to understand or very enthusiastic, and a sharp person is more about being shrewd or astute, potentially with a hint of cunning. A keen wit implies a lively and perceptive humor, whereas a sharp wit may include a biting or cutting element.
Keen can also convey a sense of vividness or intensity, as in keen colors, meaning they are bright and intense. On the other hand, sharp, when used to describe senses, refers to clarity and precision, like sharp vision meaning very clear and detailed sight.
Sharp can have a negative connotation when referring to a person's manner, suggesting abruptness or a lack of warmth. Keen generally avoids this negativity and instead is associated with positive attributes such as ardor and zeal.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Showing eagerness or enthusiasm.
Having a fine edge or point; clear and precise.
Connotation
Intensity of feeling or interest.
Acuteness, often with a sense of abruptness.
Common Usage
Mental or sensory acuity; eagerness.
Physical edges; suddenness in non-physical traits.
Emotional Quality
Generally positive, implies ardor or enthusiasm.
Can be neutral or imply harshness or abruptness.
Associated With
Intellectual or sensory sharpness; vibrant.
Accuracy, punctuality, or incisiveness.
Compare with Definitions
Keen
Having a sharp edge or point.
The chef's keen knife sliced through the tomato effortlessly.
Sharp
Having a fine edge or point that cuts or pierces easily.
Be careful with that knife; it's very sharp.
Keen
Highly developed or sharp.
His keen sense of smell helped him detect the gas leak.
Sharp
Sudden or acute.
The patient felt a sharp pain in her side.
Keen
Intense or strong.
The debate team had a keen competition this year.
Sharp
Precise or exact.
He arrived at the meeting at ten o'clock sharp.
Keen
Marked by intellectual quickness and acuity.
She gave a keen analysis of the novel's symbolism.
Sharp
Intellectually alert and quick-witted.
She's sharp and can solve complex puzzles quickly.
Keen
Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm
A keen gardener
John was keen to help
Sharp
Having a thin edge or a fine point suitable for or capable of cutting or piercing.
Keen
(of a sense) highly developed
I have keen eyesight
Sharp
Having clear form and detail
A sharp photographic image.
Keen
(of the edge or point of a blade) sharp
The keen blade went through the weeds
Sharp
Terminating in an edge or a point
Sharp angular cliffs.
A sharp nose.
Keen
(of activity or feeling) intense
There could be keen competition to provide the service
Sharp
Clearly and distinctly set forth
Sharp contrasts in behavior.
Keen
Excellent
I would soon fly to distant stars—how keen!
Sharp
Abrupt or acute
A sharp drop.
A sharp turn.
Keen
Wail in grief for a dead person
The body of Johnny was taken by his own people who keened over him
Their keening womenfolk
Sharp
Intellectually penetrating; astute
Was sharp in his analysis of the problem.
Keen
An Irish funeral song accompanied by wailing in lamentation for the dead.
Sharp
Marked by keenness and accuracy of perception
Sharp hearing.
Keen
Having a fine, sharp cutting edge or point.
Sharp
Crafty or deceitful, as in business dealings
Sharp selling practices.
Keen
Having or marked by intellectual quickness and acuity.
Sharp
Vigilant; alert
Kept a sharp lookout for shoplifters.
Keen
Acutely sensitive
A keen ear.
Sharp
Briskly or keenly cold and cutting
A sharp wind.
Keen
Sharp; vivid; strong
"His entire body hungered for keen sensation, something exciting" (Richard Wright).
Sharp
Harsh or biting in tone or character
Sharp criticism.
Keen
Intense or bracing
A keen wind.
Sharp
Fierce or impetuous; violent
A sharp temper.
A sharp assault.
Keen
Pungent; acrid
A keen smell of skunk was left behind.
Sharp
Intense; severe
A sharp pain.
Keen
Ardent; enthusiastic
A keen chess player.
Sharp
Sudden and shrill
A sharp whistle.
Keen
Eagerly desirous
Keen on going to Europe in the spring.
Sharp
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling
A sharp flash of lightning.
Keen
(Slang) Great; splendid; fine
What a keen day!.
Sharp
Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste
A sharp pungent odor.
A sharp cheese.
Keen
A loud wailing or lament for the dead.
Sharp
Composed of hard angular particles
Sharp sand.
Keen
To wail in lamentation, especially for the dead.
Sharp
Raised in pitch by a semitone.
Keen
Often with a prepositional phrase, or with to and an infinitive: showing a quick and ardent responsiveness or willingness; eager, enthusiastic, interested.
I’m keen on computers.
She’s keen to learn another language.
“Do you want to go on holiday with me?” “Yes, I’m keen.”
Sharp
Being above the proper pitch.
Keen
Fierce, intense, vehement.
This boy has a keen appetite.
Sharp
Having the key signature in sharps.
Keen
Having a fine edge or point; sharp.
Sharp
(Informal) Attractive or stylish
A sharp jacket.
Keen
Acute of mind, having or expressing mental acuteness; penetrating, sharp.
Sharp
In a sharp manner
Hit me sharp on the brow.
Keen
Acrimonious, bitter, piercing.
Keen satire or sarcasm
Sharp
Punctually; exactly
At three o'clock sharp.
Keen
Of cold, wind, etc.: cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp.
A keen wind
The cold is very keen
Sharp
(Music) Above the true or proper pitch.
Keen
(Britain) Of prices, extremely low as to be competitive.
Sharp
A sign (♯) used to indicate that a note is to be raised by a semitone.
Keen
Marvelous.
I just got this peachy keen new dress.
Sharp
A note that is raised a semitone.
Keen
(obsolete) Brave, courageous; audacious, bold.
Sharp
A slender sewing needle with a very fine point.
Keen
To make cold, to sharpen.
Sharp
A hypodermic needle
A canister for disposing of used sharps.
Keen
(transitive) To utter with a loud wailing voice or wordless cry.
Sharp
An expert.
Keen
(transitive) To mourn.
Sharp
A shrewd cheater; a sharper.
Keen
A prolonged wail for a deceased person.
Sharp
To raise in pitch by a semitone.
Keen
Sharp; having a fine edge or point; as, a keen razor, or a razor with a keen edge.
A bow he bare and arwes [arrows] bright and kene.
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.
Sharp
To play or sing above the proper pitch.
Keen
Acute of mind; sharp; penetrating; having or expressing mental acuteness; as, a man of keen understanding; a keen look; keen features.
To make our wits more keen.
Before the keen inquiry of her thought.
Sharp
Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving.
Ernest made the pencil too sharp and accidentally stabbed himself with it.
A face with sharp features
Keen
Bitter; piercing; acrimonious; cutting; stinging; severe; as, keen satire or sarcasm.
Good father cardinal, cry thou amenTo my keen curses.
Sharp
(colloquial) Intelligent.
My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old.
Keen
Piercing; penetrating; cutting; sharp; - applied to cold, wind, etc.; as, a keen wind; the cold is very keen.
Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes.
Sharp
(music) Higher than usual by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ♯ after the name of the note).
Keen
Eager; vehement; fierce; as, a keen appetite.
So keen and greedy to confound a man.
Sharp
(music) Higher in pitch than required.
The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone.
Keen
Wonderful; delightful; marvelous; as, that would be keen.
Sharp
Having an intense, acrid flavour.
Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated.
Keen
To sharpen; to make cold.
Cold winter keens the brightening flood.
Sharp
Sudden and intense.
A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions.
Keen
To wail as a keener does.
Sharp
(colloquial) Illegal or dishonest.
Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books.
Keen
A prolonged wail for a deceased person. Cf. Coranach.
Sharp
(colloquial) Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd.
A sharp dealer;
A sharp customer
Keen
A funeral lament sung with loud wailing
Sharp
Exact, precise, accurate; keen.
You'll need sharp aim to make that shot.
Keen
Express grief verbally;
We lamented the death of the child
Sharp
Offensive, critical, or acrimonious.
Sharp criticism
When the two rivals met, first there were sharp words, and then a fight broke out.
Keen
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
Sharp
(colloquial) Stylish or attractive.
You look so sharp in that tuxedo!
Keen
Intense or sharp;
Suffered exquisite pain
Felt exquisite pleasure
Sharp
Observant; alert; acute.
Keep a sharp watch on the prisoners. I don't want them to escape!
Keen
Very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation;
An incisive mind
A keen intelligence
Of sharp and active intellect
Sharp
Forming a small angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.
Drive down Main for three quarters of a mile, then make a sharp right turn onto Pine.
Keen
Very good;
He did a bully job
A neat sports car
Had a great time at the party
You look simply smashing
Sharp
Steep; precipitous; abrupt.
A sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve
Keen
As physically painful as if caused by a sharp instrument;
A cutting wind
Keen winds
Knifelike cold
Piercing knifelike pains
Piercing cold
Piercing criticism
A stabbing pain
Lancinating pain
Sharp
Said of as extreme a value as possible.
Sure, any planar graph can be five-colored. But that result is not sharp: in fact, any planar graph can be four-colored. That is sharp: the same can't be said for any lower number.
Keen
Having a sharp cutting edge or point;
A keen blade
Sharp
(chess) Tactical; risky.
Keen
Showing eagerness or enthusiasm.
She's always been keen on learning new languages.
Sharp
Piercing; keen; severe; painful.
A sharp pain; the sharp and frosty winter air
Sharp
Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification.
A sharp appetite
Sharp
(obsolete) Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
Sharp
Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty.
Sharp
Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced.
Sharp
(obsolete) Hungry.
Sharp
To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
Sharp
(notcomp) Exactly.
I'll see you at twelve o'clock sharp.
Sharp
(music) In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.
I didn't enjoy the concert much because the tenor kept going sharp on the high notes.
Sharp
(music) The symbol ♯, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher.
The pitch pipe sounded out a perfect F♯ (F sharp).
Transposition frequently is harder to read because of all the sharps and flats on the staff.
Sharp
(music) A note that is played a semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ♯.
Sharp
(music) A note that is sharp in a particular key.
The piece was difficult to read after it had been transposed, since in the new key many notes were sharps.
Sharp
(music) The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.
Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is written in C♯ minor (C sharp minor.)
Sharp
Something that is sharp.
Place sharps in the specially marked red container for safe disposal.
Sharp
(medicine) A hypodermic syringe.
Sharp
A scalpel or other edged instrument used in surgery.
Sharp
A sharp tool or weapon.
Sharp
A dishonest person; a cheater.
The casino kept in the break room a set of pictures of known sharps for the bouncers to see.
This usage is often classified as variant spelling of shark, and unrelated to the 'pointed' or 'cutting' meanings of sharp.
Sharp
Part of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
Sharp
A sewing needle with a very slender point, more pointed than a blunt or a between.
Sharp
(in the plural) Fine particles of husk mixed with coarse particle of flour of cereals; middlings.
Sharp
An expert.
Sharp
A sharpie member of Australian gangs of the 1960s and 1970s.
Sharp
(music) To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.
That new musician must be tone deaf: he sharped half the notes of the song!
Sharp
To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
Sharp
To sharpen.
Sharp
Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.
He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point.
Sharp
Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features.
Sharp
Affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash.
Sharp
High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone.
Sharp
Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air.
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.
The morning sharp and clear.
In sharpest perils faithful proved.
Sharp
Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke.
To that place the sharp Athenian lawCan not pursue us.
Be thy words severe,Sharp as merits but the sword forbear.
Sharp
Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing, or judgment.
Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want.
Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye arrived at clear and distinct ideas.
Sharp
Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite.
Sharp
Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
A sharp assault already is begun.
Sharp
Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer.
The necessity of being so sharp and exacting.
Sharp
Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand.
Sharp
Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve.
Sharp
Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated.
Sharp
To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
The head [of a spear] full sharp yground.
You bite so sharp at reasons.
Sharp
Precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp.
Sharp
A sharp tool or weapon.
If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs.
Sharp
The character [$] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step, or semitone, in pitch.
Sharp
A portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
Sharp
A sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps.
Sharp
Same as Middlings, 1.
Sharp
An expert.
Sharp
To sharpen.
Sharp
To raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step, or semitone, above the natural tone.
Sharp
To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
Sharp
To sing above the proper pitch.
Sharp
A musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
Sharp
A long thin sewing needle with a sharp point
Sharp
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined;
A sharp photographic image
The sharp crack of a twig
The crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot
Sharp
Ending in a sharp point
Sharp
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
Sharp
Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence;
A smart businessman
An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease
He was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow
Sharp
Harsh;
Sharp criticism
A sharp-worded exchange
A tart remark
Sharp
High-pitched and sharp;
Piercing screams
A shrill whistle
Sharp
Extremely steep;
An abrupt canyon
The precipitous rapids of the upper river
The precipitous hills of Chinese paintings
A sharp drop
Sharp
Keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point;
A sharp pain
Sharp winds
Sharp
Very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation;
An incisive mind
A keen intelligence
Of sharp and active intellect
Sharp
Having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing;
A sharp knife
A pencil with a sharp point
Sharp
Sour or bitter in taste
Sharp
Raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone;
C sharp
B natural
Sharp
Very sudden and in great amount or degree;
A sharp drop in the stock market
Sharp
Quick and forceful;
A sharp blow
Sharp
Changing suddenly in direction and degree;
The road twists sharply after the light
Turn sharp left here
Sharp
Clear in outline or detail; distinct.
The photograph was sharp and focused.
Common Curiosities
Can keen refer to senses?
Absolutely, such as in the phrase "keen eyesight."
Is keen ever used negatively?
Rarely, keen is generally positive, indicating enthusiasm or acuity.
Can keen describe a person's intellect?
Yes, a keen intellect means very perceptive and quick to understand.
Can sharp be a criticism?
Yes, if referring to a person's manner, sharp can imply harshness.
Does sharp mean intelligent?
Yes, a sharp mind means someone is smart and quick-thinking.
Can sharp be used to describe time?
Yes, like arriving at a precise time, such as six o'clock sharp.
Can keen be used to describe competition?
Yes, indicating that it is intense and challenging.
Can keen indicate a strong desire?
Definitely, such as being keen to participate.
Does sharp always relate to objects with edges?
No, sharp can also describe precise timing or a sudden sensation.
Can a person be described as keen?
Yes, meaning they are eager or very interested in something.
Is keen used in the context of hearing?
Yes, you can have a keen sense of hearing.
Is a sharp taste similar to a keen taste?
Sharp taste usually refers to a strong, often biting flavor, unlike keen.
Can sharp refer to sound?
Yes, indicating a clear, distinct, and possibly high-pitched sound.
Is sharpness always a physical property?
No, it can also describe mental or conceptual characteristics.
Can keen be related to weather?
Yes, it can describe intense and penetrating cold, as in a "keen wind."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
