acerb

[ uh-surb ]
/ əˈsɜrb /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR acerb ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

acerbic.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of acerb

1650–60; < Latin acerbus; see acerbic

Words nearby acerb

acephate, acequia, acer, aceramic, acerate, acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acerbity, acerola, acerose
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to acerb

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

Example sentences from the Web for acerb

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

    The Job|Sinclair Lewis