acerbic

[uh-sur-bik]

adjective

1. sour or astringent in taste.

   Lemon juice is acerbic.

2. harsh or severe, as of temper or expression.

   acerbic criticism.

acerbic

/ əˈsɜːbɪk /

adjective

1. harsh, bitter, or astringent; sour

Other Word Forms

• acerbically adverb
• unacerbic adjective
• unacerbically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of acerbic¹

1860–65; < Latin acerb ( us ) sour, unripe, bitterly harsh + -ic, irregular for -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of acerbic¹

C17: from Latin acerbus sour, bitter

Example Sentences

An acerbic news editor, using a tone that might get him into trouble these days, told me to leave the building to use my own eyes and ears, and to talk to people.

From BBC

“Will There Ever Be Another You” is a portrait of one woman’s crisis, not unlike Plath’s “The Bell Jar,” but without her clarity and acerbic confidence.

From Los Angeles Times

As the band’s most fluent English speaker, the rapper, lyricist and producer’s acerbic wit helped ground the group’s sound, and his team deeply feels his absence.

From Los Angeles Times

The audience seemed to enjoy his gentle - and sometimes acerbic - humour at their expense and he treated us to three, yes THREE, costume changes.

From BBC

Several times, laughter ripples through the theatre as the singer's more acerbic observations hit home.

From BBC

Related Words

• caustic 
• harsh 
• sharp