Definitions

acumen

[uh-kyoo-muhn, ak-yuh-] / əˈkyu mən, ˈæk yə- /

NOUN

ability to understand and reason

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acuity awareness brilliance guile ingenuity insight intellect intelligence intuition judgment sensitivity shrewdness vision wisdom wit

STRONG

acuteness astuteness brains cleverness comprehension cunning discernment discrimination farsightedness grasp keenness perception perspicacity perspicuity refinement sagacity sharpness smartness smarts understanding

WEAK

good taste percipience

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance insensitivity stupidity

STRONG

misinterpretation mistake misunderstanding

WEAK

denseness inability ineptness obtuseness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Matt Wills is the co-founder of a firm called Acumen, which advises retail firms on how much they should sell their products for.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2023

Last month the GCF disbursed $5 million to Acumen Fund, which is managing the project.

From Reuters • Oct. 14, 2016

Acumen, an early impact investor that’s put more than $30 million into East African startups, helped in 2014 with an additional $400,000 for a 17% stake in the next two clinics.

From Time • Jul. 16, 2015

Adding Acumen co-founder James to Davidson’s well-established business was “icing on the cake,” Gould said.

From Washington Times • May 17, 2015

Acumen is sharpness to some purpose, and belongs to a mind that is comprehensive as well as keen.

From English Synonyms and Antonyms With Notes on the Correct Use of Prepositions by Fernald, James Champlin

Vocabulary lists containing acumen

100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know

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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words

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GRE Verbal Reasoning, List 1

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