sharply

Definition

In a sharp manner, in various senses.

Etymology

From Middle English sharply, scharply, from Old English sċearplīċe (“sharply, smartly”), equivalent to sharp + -ly.

Example Sentences

• "The stick was sharply tapered at one end."
• "When I touched the snake it recoiled sharply."
• "The economy has slowed to a pale shadow of its growth in recent years; inflation is high, the currency is declining sharply against the dollar — but the expectations of Brazilians have rarely been higher, feeding broad intolerance with corruption, bad schools and other government failings."