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Antonyms for keen
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : keen |
| Phonetic Transcription : kin |
Definition of keen
Origin :- c.1200, from Old English cene "bold brave," later "clever, wise," from Proto-Germanic *kan- "be able to" (see can). Original prehistoric senses seem to have been both "brave" and "skilled;" cognate with Old Norse kænn "skillful, wise," Middle Dutch coene "bold," Dutch koen, Old High German kuon "pugnacious, strong," German kühn "bold, daring." Sense of "eager" is from mid-14c. The meaning "sharp" is peculiar to English: of blades and edges early 13c., of sounds c.1400, of eyesight c.1720. A popular word of approval in teenager and student slang from c.1900.
- adj enthusiastic
- adj sharp, piercing
- adj intelligent
- Nor, my dear, does your own mother always escape the keen edge of your vivacity.
- Extract from : « Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9) » by Samuel Richardson
- So keen the blade, so soft the touch, the sleeper did not wake!
- Extract from : « Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 6, May 7, 1870 » by Various
- His keen eyes had perceived Mary Turner's graces of form, her loveliness of face.
- Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
- She had meant to wait; but, with his keen eyes on her, she could not dissemble.
- Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
- But you would pardon me if you knew how much I have suffered from it, and how keen my remorse has been.
- Extract from : « The Dream » by Emile Zola
- This proposition is one of keen interest in connection with aviation.
- Extract from : « Flying Machines » by W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
- That was hardly possible, for Jane had a keen sense of humor.
- Extract from : « Quaint Courtships » by Various
- The girl had been listening with keen interest, glancing from one to the other.
- Extract from : « Green Mansions » by W. H. Hudson
- It will blunt the keen edge of sorrow, and smooth the asperities of adversity.
- Extract from : « Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I » by Francis Augustus Cox
- It fell as lightning falls, swift, keen, dazzling the eyes of all who watched.
- Extract from : « Fair Margaret » by H. Rider Haggard
Synonyms for keen
- acid
- acute
- agog
- alert
- animate
- animated
- anxious
- appetent
- ardent
- astute
- athirst
- avid
- breathless
- bright
- brilliant
- canny
- caustic
- clever
- cutting
- devoted
- discerning
- discriminating
- dying to
- eager
- earnest
- ebullient
- edged
- Einstein
- extreme
- fervent
- fervid
- fierce
- fine
- fond of
- gung ho
- honed
- impassioned
- impatient
- incisive
- intense
- intent
- interested
- lively
- nobody's fool
- observant
- penetrating
- perceptive
- perfervid
- perspicacious
- pointed
- quick
- quick-witted
- razor-sharp
- sagacious
- sapient
- sardonic
- satirical
- sensitive
- sharp
- sharp as a tack
- shrewd
- spirited
- sprightly
- strong
- tart
- thirsty
- trenchant
- unblunted
- vehement
- vivacious
- warm
- whiz
- wise
- zealous
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019