acrimonious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of acrimonious
From the Medieval Latin word ācrimōniōsus, dating back to 1605–15. See acrimony, -ous
Explanation
Locked in a mean-spirited, bitter argument? That's an acrimonious situation that might result in fists flying unless you and your opponent can cool down. If you're familiar with the adjective acrid, which means "having a strongly unpleasant taste or smell," you might guess that acrimonious probably refers to something unpleasant, too. And you'd be right. Until the mid-nineteenth century, acrimonious meant the same thing as acrid. But while acrid is still most commonly used in a literal sense (as in "an acrid odor"), acrimonious is now used to describe things like angry and bitter speeches or debates. Both words come to English from the Latin word acer, meaning "sharp." Keep sharp objects locked up if a showdown gets too acrimonious.
Vocabulary lists containing acrimonious
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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Grade 11, List 5
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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.
While most of Eddy’s work is focused on acrimonious couples, he is getting an increasing number of requests to apply the principles of high-conflict divorce to families dealing with eldercare.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
"I'm so disappointed we've reached this point," Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said of the acrimonious environment in Washington.
From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026
The already acrimonious relationship continued to sour amid a protracted and bitter legal battle, and as Dan started dating Kolkena, before eventually proposing to her.
From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026
While divorces are often expensive, acrimonious and painful for the rest of the family, I came to see that they sometimes are the most necessary step a person can take for their own well-being.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
Over time, the debate concerning the ANC and the party grew progressively acrimonious.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
