acerbity
Americannoun
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sourness, with roughness or astringency of taste.
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harshness or severity, as of temper or expression.
noun
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vitriolic or embittered speech, temper, etc
-
sourness or bitterness of taste
Etymology
Origin of acerbity
From the Latin word acerbitās, dating back to 1565–75. See acerbic, -ity
Explanation
A lemon in your mouth, a mean-spirited neighbor, a roomful of sarcastic people: these are examples of acerbity, a type of harsh bitterness that can leave you stunned. The Latin word acerbus means “sour-tasting,” and that is acerbity in a nutshell: sour. Many foods have acerbity, like limes and pickles. Acerbity can also be a personality trait, like a professor who snaps at you if you talk in class. In Charles Dickens’s novel A Christmas Carol, the character Ebenezer Scrooge is a great example of acerbity. He is a bitter, stingy businessman who won’t help anyone but himself. Don’t worry; he learns his lesson in the end.
Vocabulary lists containing acerbity
Oliver Twist
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The Ruins of Gorlan
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acer, acid, acri
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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.
A glorious actor in all mediums, she takes full advantage of Silda’s savory acerbity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
It brings together judgment and gentleness, reason and passion, acerbity and receptivity.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 21, 2018
And yet another worried about the prospect of a boycott of their companies’ products depending on the acerbity of their words.
From New York Times ● Jan. 30, 2017
It sounds treacly, but Linklater handles the sentiment with a light touch of acerbity and sets it off against another dramatic element, the troubled undercurrents that arise inevitably from the student-athlete’s circumstances.
From The New Yorker ● Apr. 5, 2016
Of course, if we are married she will wear colors and—” “I didn’t know you were willing to take up with a widow!” she interrupted, with a slight touch of acerbity.
From Vistas of New York by Brander Matthews
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
