acuity
noun
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Do you have acuity or sensitivity?
Acuity is nearly synonymous with at least one sense of sensitivity, yet, as is so often the case with closely-related words, there are subtle differences worth observing before you substitute one of these words for the other. Acuity does refer to a form of sensitivity, but it is most often applied to the perceptual senses (as in “visual acuity” or “auditory acuity”). It is also frequently used in reference to the intellect (as in “mental acuity”). Sensitivity has a broader range of meanings than acuity does, including “the capacity of being easily hurt.” It may be used of inanimate objects such as radios (“the sensitivity of the instruments was carefully calibrated”), a context in which acuity is unusual.
Synonyms
Examples of acuity in a Sentence
Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Questions around age and acuity have surrounded the 2024 race with the presumptive general election matchup between Donald Trump, 77, and Joe Biden, 81, who would each hold the distinction of being the oldest person to take the oath of office if sworn in next January.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024
By Molly Cook Escobar Mr. Biden and his allies have rejected anxieties about his age and mental acuity as unfair and inaccurate.
—Ruth Igielnik, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Now with the general election informally underway at a time when the age and acuity of both presumptive presidential nominees is being driven to the forefront, experts say questions about Harris − and eventually Trump's running mate − will only get louder.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024
The focus on Biden's memory Hur's report also featured a number of observations about Mr. Biden's memory that dominated headlines and became fodder for GOP opposition in the weeks that followed, as concern about the president's mental acuity and age surfaced during his reelection campaign.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024
The already intense scrutiny of Biden’s age was magnified when special counsel Robert Hur raised questions about the president’s mental acuity in his report last month on Biden’s handling of classified information.
—Zeke Miller, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024
The negative impact on children, their growth, and mental acuity is even more astounding.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024
And fair or not, fewer than half of voters express similar doubts about Donald J. Trump’s age or mental acuity.
—Nate Cohn, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acuity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Acuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acuity. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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acuity
noun
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acuity
noun
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