pointed

pointed — adjective

1. ending in a narrow tip that feels sharp or can go into something.

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

ending in a narrow tip that feels sharp or can go into something.

Example

The child drew a star with six long, pointed corners.

pattern: pointed + noun

A pointed knife lay beside the tomatoes on the kitchen board.

collocation: pointed knife

Common collocations
  • pointed shoes
  • pointed ears
  • pointed nose
  • pointed arch
  • pointed tip
Synonyms
  • sharp

    often stresses the ability to cut or hurt, not only the shape

  • tapered

    emphasizes becoming narrower toward one end

  • spiky

    usually suggests many thin points rather than one neat tip

  • peaked

    commonly used for hats, roofs, or mountains with a high point

Antonyms
  • blunt

    not sharp at the end

  • rounded

    curved instead of ending in a tip

Grammar Patterns

pointed + noun

be pointed at one end

Usage Note

Usually describes the shape of things such as tools, shoes, ears, leaves, and roofs. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about words or behaviour that feel critical.

Common Mistakes

The baby touched the pointed paper edge and cried.
The baby touched the sharp paper edge and cried.
'pointed' describes shape; 'sharp' is better when something can easily cut or hurt.

2. said or shown so directly that it clearly carries blame, dislike, or a personal

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

said or shown so directly that it clearly carries blame, dislike, or a personal attack.

Example

Maya's pointed question about money made the room go quiet.

collocation: pointed question

During dinner, Uncle Ray made a pointed remark about Jason's lateness.

collocation: pointed remark

Common collocations
  • pointed question
  • pointed remark
  • pointed criticism
  • pointed reply
  • pointed tone
Synonyms
  • critical

    shows disapproval, but it can be less personally aimed

  • cutting

    stronger and more hurtful, especially in speech

  • barbed

    suggests a clever, mocking insult hidden in the words

  • direct

    can be neutral and lacks the attacking tone of 'pointed'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

pointed + question

pointed + remark

pointed + criticism

Usage Note

Most often used with nouns like question, remark, criticism, reply, and tone. Distinguish from sense 1: if the word describes physical shape, this is not the right sense.

Common Mistakes

His pointed answer was short and clear.
His direct answer was short and clear.
'pointed' usually suggests criticism or personal attack, not simple clarity.

Word family

  • point
    nounA2
  • point
    verbA2
  • pointy
    adjectiveB2
  • pointedly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For physical shape, pointed means ending in a clear tip. Sharp is close, but it often stresses danger or the ability to cut, so a knife can be sharp even if you are not talking about its shape. Tapered focuses on the way something becomes gradually narrower toward one end. Spiky usually suggests many thin points, like a cactus or messy hair, rather than one neat tip. Peaked is common for roofs, hats, or mountains with a high point. You can say pointed shoes or a pointed nose, but a spiky plant and a peaked roof. A sharp blade may also be pointed, though the two ideas are not identical.

sharp ↗taperedspiky ↗peaked

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Pointed comes from point with the adjective ending -ed. Point entered English through Old French and goes back to Latin punctum, a word linked to pricking or making a mark with something sharp. The earliest idea is a physical tip. From that image, English later developed the figurative sense of pointed words or behaviour, as if the words were aimed to prick someone directly.