acerb
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of acerb
1650–60; < Latin acerbus; see acerbic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some years ago, during a brief lull in Frost's career, acerb Journalist Malcolm Muggeridge predicted that Frost would sink without a trace.
From Time Magazine Archive
Lawrence has Pryor's bantam pugnacity, but he lacks the underdog charm, the skewed genius for mimicry and acerb social humor.
From Time Magazine Archive
Jane Russell has replaced Elaine Stritch in a key role, and while Russell doesn't have the acerb singing voice of Stritch, neither did Stritch have the opulent good looks of Russell.
From Time Magazine Archive
"One might suppose that all of this should be entirely clear to any careful reader of the Court's decision," wrote Stewart in acerb conclusion.
From Time Magazine Archive
Miss Black was older than her brother, and had already acquired that acerb precision which lies in wait with such frequent success for middle-aged spinsters and bachelors.
From Notwithstanding by Cholmondeley, Mary
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
