Sharp vs. Smart — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 6, 2024
Sharp often refers to quick intellect or acuteness, whereas smart encompasses broader intelligence, adaptability, and often includes a sense of style or sophistication.
Difference Between Sharp and Smart
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sharp often refers to a high level of perceptual or mental acuity, indicating quickness in understanding or the ability to easily grasp complex concepts. Smart, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of attributes including intelligence, clever problem-solving, and sometimes even a fashionable appearance.
In terms of intellect, being sharp suggests a keen, penetrating kind of intelligence that cuts through confusion to understand the heart of a problem. Smart implies not only intelligence but also the clever application of knowledge, showing adaptability and resourcefulness in various situations.
Sharp can describe something well-defined or distinctly outlined, emphasizing clarity and precision. Smart, in contrast, often relates to appearance and behavior that is chic, polished, and socially adept, reflecting a savvy understanding of current trends.
The connotation of sharp can sometimes veer towards harshness or severity, particularly in descriptions of sensory experiences or personalities. Smart, however, typically carries positive associations, connoting ingenuity, stylishness, and effectiveness without necessarily implying harshness.
While sharpness is often innate, reflecting an inherent ability to perceive or think clearly, smartness can be cultivated through learning and experience, suggesting a combination of natural ability and acquired knowledge.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Keenness of perception or intellect.
Cleverness, stylishness, intelligence.
Focus
Perception, acuity, precision.
Intelligence, adaptability, appearance.
Connotation
Quick understanding, sometimes harsh.
Ingenious, trendy, effective.
Aesthetic Aspect
Well-defined, precise.
Fashionable, chic.
Cultivation
Often innate.
Can be both innate and cultivated.
Compare with Definitions
Sharp
Possessing or demonstrating acute intelligence or mental acuity.
Her sharp mind quickly solved the complex puzzle.
Smart
Exhibiting or characterized by quick intelligence or cleverness.
His smart solution saved the company time and money.
Sharp
Being keenly perceptive or discerning.
He has a sharp eye for detail, noticing things others miss.
Smart
Fashionable or stylish in appearance.
She wore a smart dress to the interview, impressing the panel.
Sharp
Piercing or cutting effectively.
The chef's sharp knife sliced through the vegetables effortlessly.
Smart
Behaving or acting with social savvy or cleverness.
His smart remarks always kept the conversation lively.
Sharp
Characterized by a clear, distinct outline or form.
The artist's sharp lines added a dynamic quality to the painting.
Smart
Efficient or effective in function or design.
She appreciated the smart design of the new software.
Sharp
Acutely sensitive.
She has a sharp sense of smell, detecting scents easily.
Smart
Technologically advanced or connected.
Their home is equipped with smart devices that simplify daily tasks.
Sharp
Having a thin edge or a fine point suitable for or capable of cutting or piercing.
Smart
(of a person) clean, tidy, and well dressed
You look very smart
Sharp
Having clear form and detail
A sharp photographic image.
Smart
Having or showing a quick-witted intelligence
If he was that smart he would never have been tricked
Sharp
Terminating in an edge or a point
Sharp angular cliffs.
A sharp nose.
Smart
Quick; brisk
He set off at a smart pace
Sharp
Clearly and distinctly set forth
Sharp contrasts in behavior.
Smart
(of part of the body) feel a sharp stinging pain
Her legs were scratched and smarting
Sharp
Abrupt or acute
A sharp drop.
A sharp turn.
Smart
Sharp stinging pain
The smart of the recent cuts
Sharp
Intellectually penetrating; astute
Was sharp in his analysis of the problem.
Smart
Intelligence; acumen
I don't think I have the smarts for it
Sharp
Marked by keenness and accuracy of perception
Sharp hearing.
Smart
Having or showing intelligence; bright.
Sharp
Crafty or deceitful, as in business dealings
Sharp selling practices.
Smart
Canny and shrewd in dealings with others
A smart negotiator.
Sharp
Vigilant; alert
Kept a sharp lookout for shoplifters.
Smart
Amusingly clever; witty
A smart quip.
A lively, smart conversation.
Sharp
Briskly or keenly cold and cutting
A sharp wind.
Smart
Impertinent; insolent
That's enough of your smart talk.
Sharp
Harsh or biting in tone or character
Sharp criticism.
Smart
Energetic or quick in movement
A smart pace.
Sharp
Fierce or impetuous; violent
A sharp temper.
A sharp assault.
Smart
Fashionable; elegant
A smart suit.
A smart restaurant.
The smart set.
Sharp
Intense; severe
A sharp pain.
Smart
Capable of making adjustments that resemble those resulting from human decisions, chiefly by means of electronic sensors and computer technology
Smart missiles.
Smart machines.
Sharp
Sudden and shrill
A sharp whistle.
Smart
To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain
The slap delivered to my face smarted.
Sharp
Sudden and brilliant or dazzling
A sharp flash of lightning.
Smart
To be the location of such a pain
The incision on my leg smarts.
Sharp
Strongly affecting the senses of smell and taste
A sharp pungent odor.
A sharp cheese.
Smart
To feel such a pain.
Sharp
Composed of hard angular particles
Sharp sand.
Smart
To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse
"No creature smarts so little as a fool" (Alexander Pope).
Sharp
Raised in pitch by a semitone.
Smart
Sharp pain or anguish
The smart of the wound.
Sharp
Being above the proper pitch.
Smart
Smarts(Slang) Intelligence; expertise
A reporter with a lot of smarts.
Sharp
Having the key signature in sharps.
Smart
(intransitive) To hurt or sting.
After being hit with a pitch, the batter exclaimed "Ouch, my arm smarts!"
Sharp
(Informal) Attractive or stylish
A sharp jacket.
Smart
(transitive) To cause a smart or sting in.
Sharp
In a sharp manner
Hit me sharp on the brow.
Smart
(intransitive) To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.
Sharp
Punctually; exactly
At three o'clock sharp.
Smart
Exhibiting social ability or cleverness.
Sharp
(Music) Above the true or proper pitch.
Smart
(informal) Exhibiting intellectual knowledge, such as that found in books.
Sharp
A sign (♯) used to indicate that a note is to be raised by a semitone.
Smart
Equipped with intelligent behaviour (digital/computer technology).
Smart car
Sharp
A note that is raised a semitone.
Smart
Good-looking; well dressed; fine; fashionable.
A smart outfit
You look smart in that business suit.
Sharp
A slender sewing needle with a very fine point.
Smart
Cleverly shrewd and humorous in a way that may be rude and disrespectful.
He became tired of his daughter's sarcasm and smart remarks.
Don't get smart with me!
Sharp
A hypodermic needle
A canister for disposing of used sharps.
Smart
Sudden and intense.
Sharp
An expert.
Smart
Causing sharp pain; stinging.
Sharp
A shrewd cheater; a sharper.
Smart
Sharp; keen; poignant.
A smart pain
Sharp
To raise in pitch by a semitone.
Smart
Intense in feeling; painful. Used usually with the adverb intensifier right.
He raised his voice, and it hurt her feelings right smart.
That cast on his leg chaffs him right smart.
Sharp
To play or sing above the proper pitch.
Smart
(archaic) Efficient; vigorous; brilliant.
Sharp
Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
I keep my knives sharp so that they don't slip unexpectedly while carving.
Ernest made the pencil too sharp and accidentally stabbed himself with it.
A face with sharp features
Smart
(archaic) Pretentious; showy; spruce.
A smart gown
Sharp
(colloquial) Intelligent.
My nephew is a sharp lad; he can count to 100 in six languages, and he's only five years old.
Smart
(archaic) Brisk; fresh.
A smart breeze
Sharp
(music) Higher than usual by one semitone (denoted by the symbol ♯ after the name of the note).
Smart
A sharp, quick, lively pain; a sting.
Sharp
(music) Higher in pitch than required.
The orchestra's third violin several times was sharp about an eighth of a tone.
Smart
Mental pain or suffering; grief; affliction.
Sharp
Having an intense, acrid flavour.
Milly couldn't stand sharp cheeses when she was pregnant, because they made her nauseated.
Smart
Smart-money.
Sharp
Sudden and intense.
A pregnant woman during labor normally experiences a number of sharp contractions.
Smart
A dandy; one who is smart in dress; one who is brisk, vivacious, or clever.
Sharp
(colloquial) Illegal or dishonest.
Michael had a number of sharp ventures that he kept off the books.
Smart
To feel a lively, pungent local pain; - said of some part of the body as the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart.
Sharp
(colloquial) Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interests; shrewd.
A sharp dealer;
A sharp customer
Smart
To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil; as, the team is still smarting from its loss of the championship.
No creature smarts so little as a fool.
He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it.
Sharp
Exact, precise, accurate; keen.
You'll need sharp aim to make that shot.
Smart
To cause a smart in.
Sharp
Offensive, critical, or acrimonious.
Sharp criticism
When the two rivals met, first there were sharp words, and then a fight broke out.
Smart
Quick, pungent, lively pain; a pricking local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles.
Sharp
(colloquial) Stylish or attractive.
You look so sharp in that tuxedo!
Smart
Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction.
To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart.
Counsel mitigates the greatest smart.
Sharp
Observant; alert; acute.
Keep a sharp watch on the prisoners. I don't want them to escape!
Smart
A fellow who affects smartness, briskness, and vivacity; a dandy.
Sharp
Forming a small angle; especially, forming an angle of less than ninety degrees.
Drive down Main for three quarters of a mile, then make a sharp right turn onto Pine.
Smart
Smart money (see below).
Sharp
Steep; precipitous; abrupt.
A sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve
Smart
Causing a smart; pungent; pricking; as, a smart stroke or taste.
How smart lash that speech doth give my conscience.
Sharp
Said of as extreme a value as possible.
Sure, any planar graph can be five-colored. But that result is not sharp: in fact, any planar graph can be four-colored. That is sharp: the same can't be said for any lower number.
Smart
Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain.
Sharp
(chess) Tactical; risky.
Smart
Vigorous; sharp; severe.
Sharp
Piercing; keen; severe; painful.
A sharp pain; the sharp and frosty winter air
Smart
Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; sharp; clever.
Sharp
Eager or keen in pursuit; impatient for gratification.
A sharp appetite
Smart
Efficient; vigorous; brilliant.
Sharp
(obsolete) Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
Smart
Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying.
Who, for the poor renown of being smartWould leave a sting within a brother's heart?
A sentence or two, . . . which I thought very smart.
Sharp
Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty.
Smart
Pretentious; showy; spruce; as, a smart gown.
Sharp
Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone; aspirated; unvoiced.
Smart
Brisk; fresh; as, a smart breeze.
Sharp
(obsolete) Hungry.
Smart
A kind of pain such as that caused by a wound or a burn or a sore
Sharp
To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
Smart
Be the source of pain
Sharp
(notcomp) Exactly.
I'll see you at twelve o'clock sharp.
Smart
Showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
Sharp
(music) In a higher pitch than is correct or desirable.
I didn't enjoy the concert much because the tenor kept going sharp on the high notes.
Smart
Elegant and stylish;
Chic elegance
A smart new dress
A suit of voguish cut
Sharp
(music) The symbol ♯, placed after the name of a note in the key signature or before a note on the staff to indicate that the note is to be played a semitone higher.
The pitch pipe sounded out a perfect F♯ (F sharp).
Transposition frequently is harder to read because of all the sharps and flats on the staff.
Smart
Characterized by quickness and ease in learning;
Some children are brighter in one subject than another
Smart children talk earlier than the average
Sharp
(music) A note that is played a semitone higher than usual; denoted by the name of the note that is followed by the symbol ♯.
Smart
Improperly forward or bold;
Don't be fresh with me
Impertinent of a child to lecture a grownup
An impudent boy given to insulting strangers
Sharp
(music) A note that is sharp in a particular key.
The piece was difficult to read after it had been transposed, since in the new key many notes were sharps.
Smart
Marked by smartness in dress and manners;
A dapper young man
A jaunty red hat
Sharp
(music) The scale having a particular sharp note as its tonic.
Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is written in C♯ minor (C sharp minor.)
Sharp
Something that is sharp.
Place sharps in the specially marked red container for safe disposal.
Sharp
(medicine) A hypodermic syringe.
Sharp
A scalpel or other edged instrument used in surgery.
Sharp
A sharp tool or weapon.
Sharp
A dishonest person; a cheater.
The casino kept in the break room a set of pictures of known sharps for the bouncers to see.
This usage is often classified as variant spelling of shark, and unrelated to the 'pointed' or 'cutting' meanings of sharp.
Sharp
Part of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
Sharp
A sewing needle with a very slender point, more pointed than a blunt or a between.
Sharp
(in the plural) Fine particles of husk mixed with coarse particle of flour of cereals; middlings.
Sharp
An expert.
Sharp
A sharpie member of Australian gangs of the 1960s and 1970s.
Sharp
(music) To raise the pitch of a note half a step making a natural note a sharp.
That new musician must be tone deaf: he sharped half the notes of the song!
Sharp
To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
Sharp
To sharpen.
Sharp
Having a very thin edge or fine point; of a nature to cut or pierce easily; not blunt or dull; keen.
He dies upon my scimeter's sharp point.
Sharp
Terminating in a point or edge; not obtuse or rounded; somewhat pointed or edged; peaked or ridged; as, a sharp hill; sharp features.
Sharp
Affecting the sense as if pointed or cutting, keen, penetrating, acute: to the taste or smell, pungent, acid, sour, as ammonia has a sharp taste and odor; to the hearing, piercing, shrill, as a sharp sound or voice; to the eye, instantaneously brilliant, dazzling, as a sharp flash.
Sharp
High in pitch; acute; as, a sharp note or tone.
Sharp
Very trying to the feelings; piercing; keen; severe; painful; distressing; as, sharp pain, weather; a sharp and frosty air.
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.
The morning sharp and clear.
In sharpest perils faithful proved.
Sharp
Cutting in language or import; biting; sarcastic; cruel; harsh; rigorous; severe; as, a sharp rebuke.
To that place the sharp Athenian lawCan not pursue us.
Be thy words severe,Sharp as merits but the sword forbear.
Sharp
Of keen perception; quick to discern or distinguish; having nice discrimination; acute; penetrating; sagacious; clever; as, a sharp eye; sharp sight, hearing, or judgment.
Nothing makes men sharper . . . than want.
Many other things belong to the material world, wherein the sharpest philosophers have never ye arrived at clear and distinct ideas.
Sharp
Eager in pursuit; keen in quest; impatient for gratification; keen; as, a sharp appetite.
Sharp
Fierce; ardent; fiery; violent; impetuous.
A sharp assault already is begun.
Sharp
Keenly or unduly attentive to one's own interest; close and exact in dealing; shrewd; as, a sharp dealer; a sharp customer.
The necessity of being so sharp and exacting.
Sharp
Composed of hard, angular grains; gritty; as, sharp sand.
Sharp
Steep; precipitous; abrupt; as, a sharp ascent or descent; a sharp turn or curve.
Sharp
Uttered in a whisper, or with the breath alone, without voice, as certain consonants, such as p, k, t, f; surd; nonvocal; aspirated.
Sharp
To a point or edge; piercingly; eagerly; sharply.
The head [of a spear] full sharp yground.
You bite so sharp at reasons.
Sharp
Precisely; exactly; as, we shall start at ten o'clock sharp.
Sharp
A sharp tool or weapon.
If butchers had but the manners to go to sharps, gentlemen would be contented with a rubber at cuffs.
Sharp
The character [$] used to indicate that the note before which it is placed is to be raised a half step, or semitone, in pitch.
Sharp
A portion of a stream where the water runs very rapidly.
Sharp
A sewing needle having a very slender point; a needle of the most pointed of the three grades, blunts, betweens, and sharps.
Sharp
Same as Middlings, 1.
Sharp
An expert.
Sharp
To sharpen.
Sharp
To raise above the proper pitch; to elevate the tone of; especially, to raise a half step, or semitone, above the natural tone.
Sharp
To play tricks in bargaining; to act the sharper.
Sharp
To sing above the proper pitch.
Sharp
A musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
Sharp
A long thin sewing needle with a sharp point
Sharp
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined;
A sharp photographic image
The sharp crack of a twig
The crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot
Sharp
Ending in a sharp point
Sharp
Having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions;
An acute observer of politics and politicians
Incisive comments
Icy knifelike reasoning
As sharp and incisive as the stroke of a fang
Penetrating insight
Frequent penetrative observations
Sharp
Marked by practical hardheaded intelligence;
A smart businessman
An astute tenant always reads the small print in a lease
He was too shrewd to go along with them on a road that could lead only to their overthrow
Sharp
Harsh;
Sharp criticism
A sharp-worded exchange
A tart remark
Sharp
High-pitched and sharp;
Piercing screams
A shrill whistle
Sharp
Extremely steep;
An abrupt canyon
The precipitous rapids of the upper river
The precipitous hills of Chinese paintings
A sharp drop
Sharp
Keenly and painfully felt; as if caused by a sharp edge or point;
A sharp pain
Sharp winds
Sharp
Very penetrating and clear and sharp in operation;
An incisive mind
A keen intelligence
Of sharp and active intellect
Sharp
Having or made by a thin edge or sharp point; suitable for cutting or piercing;
A sharp knife
A pencil with a sharp point
Sharp
Sour or bitter in taste
Sharp
Raised in pitch by one chromatic semitone;
C sharp
B natural
Sharp
Very sudden and in great amount or degree;
A sharp drop in the stock market
Sharp
Quick and forceful;
A sharp blow
Sharp
Changing suddenly in direction and degree;
The road twists sharply after the light
Turn sharp left here
Common Curiosities
How do "sharp" and "smart" differ in connotation when describing objects?
"Sharp" emphasizes precision and effectiveness, while "smart" indicates stylishness or advanced functionality.
How does "smart" relate to technology?
"Smart" in technology refers to devices or systems that are interconnected and capable of autonomous functions, enhancing efficiency and user experience.
Is "smart" always related to intelligence?
While often related to intelligence, "smart" can also describe someone's stylish appearance or the functionality of technology.
What does "sharp" mean in terms of personality?
In terms of personality, "sharp" often describes someone with quick wit or intelligence, capable of understanding or reacting swiftly.
Can a person be both sharp and smart?
Yes, a person can be both sharp and smart, possessing keen intelligence and cleverness along with stylishness or social savvy.
How does "sharp" relate to sensory experiences?
"Sharp" can describe acute sensitivity or intensity in sensory experiences, like sharp tastes or smells.
Can "sharp" be considered complimentary?
Yes, describing someone as "sharp" can be a compliment, highlighting their quick intelligence or keen perceptions.
Can "sharp" imply negativity?
Sometimes, "sharp" may imply a harshness or severity, especially in sensory descriptions or personal interactions.
What makes a device "smart"?
A device is considered "smart" if it has the ability to connect, share, and interact with other devices and users, often autonomously.
How are "sharp" and "smart" perceived in professional settings?
In professional settings, both "sharp" and "smart" are positive traits, with "sharp" highlighting mental acuity and "smart" denoting cleverness, efficiency, or stylishness.
Is being "smart" a matter of appearance or intellect?
Being "smart" encompasses both appearance (stylishness) and intellect (cleverness and intelligence).
How is "smart" used in the context of fashion?
In fashion, "smart" describes attire that is stylish, polished, and well-suited to the occasion.
Does "smart" have different meanings in British and American English?
While "smart" generally carries similar meanings, in British English, it might more strongly connote stylishness in appearance.
Can "sharp" refer to a sense of humor?
Yes, a "sharp" sense of humor is quick, possibly cutting, and capable of making astute observations.
Is "sharpness" a learned skill or an innate quality?
"Sharpness" in terms of mental acuity is often considered an innate quality, though it can be honed through practice and learning.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
