asperity

American  

[uh-sper-i-tee] / əˈspɛr ɪ ti /

noun

plural

asperities

1. harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner; severity; acrimony.

   The cause of her anger did not warrant such asperity.

   Synonyms:

   astringency, bitterness, acerbity

   Antonyms:

   cheerfulness, affability

2. hardship; difficulty; rigor.

   the asperities of polar weather.

3. roughness of surface; unevenness.

4. something rough or harsh.

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asperity British  

/ æˈspɛrɪtɪ /

noun

1. roughness or sharpness of temper

2. roughness or harshness of a surface, sound, taste, etc

3. a condition hard to endure; affliction

4. physics the elastically compressed region of contact between two surfaces caused by the normal force

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Etymology

Origin of asperity

1200–50; late Middle English asperite (< Anglo-French ) < Latin asperitās, equivalent to asper rough + -itās -ity; replacing Middle English asprete < Anglo-French, Old French < Latin

Explanation

Asperity is the harsh tone or behavior people exhibit when they’re angry, impatient, or just miserable. Did your supervisor snap “Late again!” when you showed up 20 minutes after your shift was supposed to start? She's speaking with asperity. The harshness that asperity implies can also apply to conditions, like "the asperities of life in a bomb shelter." The word can be used even more literally to refer to surfaces, as in "the asperity of an unfinished edge." But, most often, you will see asperity used in reference to grumpy voices or irritable behavior.

Example Sentences

After Money contacted Asperity, it arranged for Fox to be given new vouchers with an alternative retailer.

From The Guardian • Nov. 16, 2012

Dawn Fox from Northolt in Middlesex bought Comet vouchers through an employee discount scheme run by a company called Asperity.

From The Guardian • Nov. 16, 2012

Asperity told her it could not give her a refund as it had given her "funds" to Comet.

From The Guardian • Nov. 16, 2012

Asperity and bitterness must be buried in the graves with the dead.

From Brann the Iconoclast — Volume 12 by Brann, William Cowper

It animates and sweetens Conversation, by raising innocent Mirth and good Humour; and by this Effect it relieves Domestick Cares, revives Men of Business and studious Professions, and softens the Asperity of morose Dispositions.

From Essay upon Wit by Addison, Joseph