English adjective: keen | |||
1. | keen having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions | ||
Samples | 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. | ||
Synonyms | acute, discriminating, incisive, knifelike, penetrating, penetrative, piercing, sharp | ||
Similar | perceptive | ||
Antonyms | unperceiving, unperceptive | ||
2. | keen intense or sharp | ||
Samples | Suffered exquisite pain. Felt exquisite pleasure. | ||
Synonyms | exquisite | ||
Similar | intense | ||
Antonyms | mild | ||
3. | keen very good | ||
Samples | He did a bully job. A neat sports car. Had a great time at the party. You look simply smashing. | ||
Synonyms | bang-up, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, great, groovy, neat, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell | ||
Similar | good | ||
Domain usage | colloquialism | ||
Antonyms | bad | ||
4. | keen painful as if caused by a sharp instrument | ||
Samples | A cutting wind. Keen winds. Knifelike cold. Piercing knifelike pains. Piercing cold. Piercing criticism. A stabbing pain. Lancinating pain. | ||
Synonyms | cutting, knifelike, lancinate, lancinating, piercing, stabbing | ||
Similar | sharp | ||
Antonyms | dull | ||
5. | keen having a sharp cutting edge or point | ||
Samples | A keen blade. | ||
Similar | sharp | ||
Antonyms | dull | ||
English noun: keen | |||
1. | keen (communication) a funeral lament sung with loud wailing | ||
Broader (hypernym) | coronach, dirge, lament, requiem, threnody | ||
Domain region | Emerald Isle, Hibernia, Ireland | ||
English verb: keen | |||
1. | keen (emotion) express grief verbally | ||
Samples | We lamented the death of the child. | ||
Synonyms | lament | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | express emotion, express feelings | ||
Entail | grieve, sorrow | ||