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
- acerbically adverb
- unacerbic adjective
- unacerbically adverb
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.
Australia's acerbic media did not hold back in their criticism, citing selection "stuff-ups" and "shambolic" preparations, including a 3-0 pre-tournament series loss in Pakistan, for the embarrassment.
From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026
This turn in the film, written and directed by Simón Mesa Soto, reveals a slightly sentimental streak beneath its acerbic surface.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026
Gerulaitis' acerbic assessment came in 1980 when the American finally beat Jimmy Connors after losing their previous 16 meetings.
From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026
In previous administrations, Defense Department officials — including the acerbic Rumsfeld — would hold regular press briefings, often twice a week.
From Salon • Oct. 15, 2025
But there was no evidence that Lombardy, known for his acerbic tongue, was antagonistic toward Bobby.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
