adjective
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another word for acid
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(of an oxide) yielding an acid in aqueous solution
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of acidic
Explanation
Something that's acidic has a sour or sharp taste. Lemonade, especially if it's light on the sugar, tastes very acidic. Citrus fruits have a typically acidic flavor, and they qualify as acidic in the scientific definition of the word as well. In chemistry, something that's acidic has a low pH, as opposed to a base, which has a higher pH. Various kinds of acids and vinegar are also acidic. The word comes from acid, which originally meant "of the taste of vinegar," from the Latin word acidus, "sour or sharp."
Vocabulary lists containing acidic
Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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Structure and Properties of Matter - Introductory
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Structure and Properties of Matter - High School
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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.
They would have needed to encounter one another often enough to interact while also surviving a hot, acidic, and chemically challenging environment.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026
The Copernicus Ocean State Report depicts profound changes across the world's seas, from record-breaking heatwaves in the Mediterranean and Black seas to shifts in marine ecosystems and increasingly acidic waters.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
“The oranges are Riverland oranges from South Australia and add a fruity and slightly acidic flavor to the rich jus,” he says.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
Conversely, Tina Fey and the writing staff of “The Four Seasons” have been using Domingo’s Danny as, among other things, a brutally effective vehicle to deploy acidic one-liners.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
Matilde is all white sugar—sweet and forgiving— while I’m pure acidic lemon.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
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.
