acerbic
Americanadjective
-
sour or astringent in taste.
Lemon juice is acerbic.
-
harsh or severe, as of temper or expression.
acerbic criticism.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of acerbic
1860–65; < Latin acerb ( us ) sour, unripe, bitterly harsh + -ic, irregular for -ous
Explanation
If you say something acerbic, or harshly bitter, to someone, it can leave a bitter taste in your own mouth that lingers, and the acerbic, or acidic, words can eat away at the person on the receiving end too. It is fitting that the first part of acerbic sounds like the first part of "acid," because the Latin source of acerbic is acerbus, "sour-tasting." Acerbic speech is like acid, because it is sour and corrodes, or weakens, relationships. There are ways to use sharp words for humor, and some comedians are known for their "acerbic wit," but just as you would take safety precautions in using acid in a science lab, you should be cautious about using acerbic language in conversation.
Vocabulary lists containing acerbic
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "A"
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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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.
Acerbic zingers aside, Truss’s performance is no joke.
From Washington Post • Oct. 2, 2022
Acerbic and mischievous, Yard Act's skittery post-punk anthems are peppered with wry observations on post-Brexit Britain.
From BBC • Jul. 26, 2022
Acerbic can be clever, but it is a fine, dangerous line, even for those who learn early how to navigate audience sensitivities and a comedy world dominated by men.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2019
The show had something other programs didn’t: Acerbic humor, a teenage audience, and the built-in cash machine of tie-in album sales.
From Salon • Oct. 8, 2015
So the question now is, will Empowerment Lizzo—the Lizzo your mom and dad love—score hits the way Acerbic Lizzo already has?
From Slate
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.
