Final answer:
The phrase indicates a profound psychological impact on the main character, suggesting intense clarity or a shocking realization with sensory overload.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "The word stalled out in his brain, and his world went sharp and too-bright" suggests that the main character is experiencing a moment of intense clarity or realization, often associated with shock or epiphany. The description indicates a sudden halt in the character's thought process, as if the word or thought has come to a dead stop, and this is accompanied by a sensory overload, described as a world that becomes 'sharp' and 'too-bright'. These phrases indicate a strong emotional or psychological impact on the character, showing that whatever realization or incident has occurred, it has a profound effect on his perception or state of mind.