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acerb

[ uh-surb ]
/ əˈsɜrb /
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See synonyms for acerb on Thesaurus.com
adjective
acerbic.
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Origin of acerb

1650–60; <Latin acerbus;see acerbic

Words nearby acerb

ace point, acequia, acer, aceramic, acerate, acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acerbity, acerola, acerose
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to acerb

acerbic, acetous, acid, acidulous, acrid, bitter, harsh, sharp, tangy, tart

How to use acerb in a sentence

  • The fruit remains acerb and hard; the tree declines to be "ameliorated" for the good of mankind.

    Prairie Gold|Various

  • She denied that stenographers could ever form a union, but she could not answer his acerb, “Why not?”

    The Job|Sinclair Lewis

  • Thereupon followed a soft discussion that was as near being acerb as nails are near velvet paws.

    Vittoria, Complete|George Meredith
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