1
as in sensitive
able to sense slight impressions or differences
pilots with especially keen eyesight
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2
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
the keen wind gave me chapped lips
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3
as in sharpened
having an edge thin enough to cut or pierce something
lanced the boil with a keen scalpel
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4
as in quick
having or showing quickness of mind
readers who were keen enough to realize that the writer was being satirical
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5
as in excellent
of the very best kind
that new digital camera sure is keen
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6
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest
a keen hunger for fame and fortune in the fashion industry
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7
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
movies gave him keen enjoyment like nothing else
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as in wail
a crying out in grief
the loud keens of the widows were heard throughout the war-ravaged city
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1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of keen
Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
And, in public, many top executives are keen to praise Trump and show close relations with the White House.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 25 Jan. 2023
For those keen on camping, this portable, self-inflating tent is designed to be water- and weather-resistant.
—Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 9 Jan. 2023
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 May 2024
However, by the second movement, Kavakos’s violin keened a melancholy, aria-esque melody in iridescent threads of sound, answered in turn by a cool flute.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for keen
Adjective
Despite the overwhelming response to her viral hit, Roga has not yet heard from any professional producers or talent scouts, and her family are still keen to shield her from the spotlight.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
And, in public, many top executives are keen to praise Trump and show close relations with the White House.
—Justin Worland/houston, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
For those keen to explore the country deeper and differently, Vinho Verde awaits.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 25 Jan. 2023
For those keen on camping, this portable, self-inflating tent is designed to be water- and weather-resistant.
—Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 9 Jan. 2023
Verb
The score’s main theme feels, above all, like a progression—a steady movement from melody to dissonance, from keening violins to ominous cellos, from pastoral splendor to something more sinister and unresolved.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 May 2024
However, by the second movement, Kavakos’s violin keened a melancholy, aria-esque melody in iridescent threads of sound, answered in turn by a cool flute.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for keen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for keen
Adjective
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Concerns have been raised about DOGE operatives, many with ties to Musk's companies, gaining access to sensitive government data without adequate oversight or experience.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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In late March, four Taiwanese soldiers, three of whom were part of a unit that provides security for Taiwan’s Presidential Office, were jailed for up to seven years after being convicted of selling pictures of sensitive information to China.—
Eryk Michael Smith,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Many of his biting posts have gone viral, drawing thousands of shares and millions of views.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The criticism from Barney Ronay at The Guardian was even more biting.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Here’s a quick roundup of the latest news from leading denim brands.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Apr. 2025
-
App Store updates Those looking for apps in the App Store can see summaries from user reviews to get a quick look at what others are saying, Apple said.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Two standout experiences near the water include Schooner’s in the Caribbean Village, open for breakfast and dinner (chef Chris’s swordfish steak was excellent) as well as Barefoot by the Sea in the Italian Village.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2025
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Rear space is excellent, with plenty of legroom and headroom, accentuated by the panoramic sunroof.—
James Morris,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But the Devils are a bit of a mess thanks to injuries, which makes this matchup hard to get too excited over.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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So, when the opportunity to visit Tanzania arose, I was intrigued and excited to embark on this journey.—
Ronny Maye,
Essence,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The missions became more intense as Japan's outlook grew more dire and the military showcased the sacrifice of the pilots to drum up patriotism and support for the war.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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Next, the authors report that repressive techniques are often effective in suppressing protest in the short run but tend to make resistance more intense in the long term.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The wail of sirens echoed through Marysville on Thursday morning as hundreds lined D Street to honor a fallen officer — the first Marysville police officer killed in the line of duty in more than a century — whose body was ushered to a Placer County funeral home.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2025
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Those harsh, swelling wails of warning become the film’s punctuating sonic motif — in stark contrast to the buoyant, babbling vocal interjections of Alexey Shmurak’s unexpected a cappella score, a literal chorus of humanity amid the chaos.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Pundits complained last year’s Cannes was a light affair, but that had to do with the bottleneck created by the strikes, for one.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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While speaking at a dinner hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday, Trump complained over how the U.S. doesn’t manufacturer its own pharmaceuticals stating that tariffs on these products would be forthcoming.—
Joseph Choi,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Keen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keen. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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