NYT Dictionary

ACUTE

/əˈkjut/
AdjectiveNounVerba-CUTEa-cute · 2 syllablesGrade 9

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2024, 2025

Meaning

Brief, quick, short.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

From Late Middle English acute (“of a disease or fever: starting suddenly and lasting for a short time; of a humour: irritating, sharp”), from Latin acūta, from acūtus (“sharp, sharpened”), perfect passive participle of acuō (“to make pointed, sharpen, whet”), from acus (“needle, pin”). The word is cognate to ague (“acute, intermittent fever”). As regards the noun, which is derived from the verb, compare Middle English acūte (“severe but short-lived fever; of blood: corrosiveness, sharpness; musical note of high pitch”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

fastrapidkeenpowerfulstrongperacuteemergentpressingsuddenacute-angled

Antonyms

leisurelyslowgravedullobtusewitlesssubacuteobtuse-angledchronic

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 3 recorded puzzles:

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