astringent

American  

[uh-strin-juhnt] / əˈstrɪn dʒənt /

adjective

1. Medicine/Medical. contracting; constrictive; styptic.

2. harshly biting; caustic.

   his astringent criticism.

   Synonyms:

   rigorous, harsh, sharp

3. stern or severe; austere.

   Synonyms:

   rigorous, harsh, sharp

4. sharply incisive; pungent.

   astringent wit.

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noun

• astringents
  plural

1. Medicine/Medical. a substance that contracts the tissues or canals of the body, thereby diminishing discharges, as of mucus or blood.

2. a cosmetic that cleans the skin and constricts the pores.

astringent British  

/ əˈstrɪndʒənt /

adjective

1. severe; harsh

2. sharp or invigorating

3. causing contraction of body tissues, checking blood flow, or restricting secretions of fluids; styptic

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noun

1. an astringent drug or lotion

astringent Scientific  

/ ə-strĭn′jənt /

1. A substance or preparation, such as alum, that draws together or constricts body tissues, resulting in decreased flow of blood or other secretions.

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Synonym Usage

See acid.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• astringency
  noun
• nonastringency
  noun
• nonastringent
  adjective
• astringently
  adverb
• nonastringently
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• astringents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of astringent

1535–45; < Latin astringent- (stem of astringēns ) present participle of astringere to astringe; see -ent

Explanation

You know that vinegar-like liquid teens put on their faces in order to tighten their pores and dry up their pimples? That's astringent. An astringent personality, on the other hand, is perceived as bitter and perhaps even a bit toxic. Astringent may be a lifesaver for an acne-prone teen, but when the term is used as an adjective and applied to you personally, it's less positive. Since astringents are acid-based, an astringent personality can also be corrosive. If someone is prone to biting sarcasm and cynicism, he probably has an astringent view of the world.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

astringent astringents

But that astringent take is not the only possible reading of Oertel’s provocative image.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Their study, published in Current Research in Food Science, examined whether the distinctive astringent taste of flavanols could itself act as a signal to the brain.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 7, 2026

It was musty and slightly astringent, not unlike the communal bin area in his block of flats.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2025

Touchet — she pronounces it the French way — is observant and astringent, tall and imposing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2023

Sasha Melnik’s astringent would take longer, Mama said, so Anya took the three ready potions out for delivery while Mama got started on his.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Perfumed body wash, razors with strange aloe strips surrounding the blades, toners, astringents and a different soap for your hands, body and face – you don’t need most of it.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 1, 2016

People with dry skin on the face should avoid harsh peels, masks, alcohol-based toners or astringents that can strip oil from the skin, Burkemper said in a university news release.

From US News ● Feb. 20, 2016

One of the biggest acne-offenders is overtreatment, meaning you wash aggressively, scrub vigorously, apply potions and astringents generously, all the while provoking your skin to rebel.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 29, 2011

And among all the astringents put into requisition for the prevention of peace and order, none is so abhorrent as the censorial power.

From Time Magazine Archive

This should be followed by astringents, such as one-half tablespoonful of alum, borax, or chlorate of potassium placed on the tongue.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry