Cool MateRazor-sharp vs Sharp
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Razor-sharp
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Sharp
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Most common: Sharp
| Razor-sharp | Sharp | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈreɪzə ʃɑːp//🇺🇸 //ˈreɪzər ʃɑrp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃɑːp/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃɑːrp/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very sharp or clear; can cut easily. | Having a thin edge or point that can cut things. |
| Example | The chef used a razor-sharp knife to slice the vegetables effortlessly. | The knife is sharp enough to cut through meat easily. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | razor-sharp focus, razor-sharp edge, razor-sharp intellect, razor-sharp image, razor-sharp blade | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, as sharp as a razor, be, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, as sharp as a razor, be, seem, stay, extremely, fairly, very, be, sound, extremely, fairly, very, with, be, sound, extremely, fairly, very, with |
| Antonyms | blunt, dull | blunt, dull |
| Common mistakes | Used as 'razor sharp' without the hyphen., Misunderstood as 'razor's sharp' indicating possession., Confused with 'sharp' meaning intelligent. | Confused with 'sharper' as a noun instead of as an adjective., Used to describe something that is not related to cutting, like 'sharp' for taste., Incorrectly said as 'sharped' instead of just 'sharp'. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe physical sharpness or clarity of thoughts, images, or arguments. Avoid in overly informal contexts. | Use 'sharp' when describing knives, tools, or things that can cut. Not typically used for emotional or social contexts, where 'sharp' might imply intelligence instead. |
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Frequently asked questions: Razor-sharp vs Sharp
What's the difference between Razor-sharp and Sharp?
Razor-sharp: Very sharp or clear; can cut easily. Sharp: Having a thin edge or point that can cut things.
Which is more common: Razor-sharp and Sharp?
Sharp is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Razor-sharp: The chef used a razor-sharp knife to slice the vegetables effortlessly. Sharp: The knife is sharp enough to cut through meat easily.
Can I use Razor-sharp and Sharp interchangeably?
Not always. Razor-sharp and Sharp are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.