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acidulous

[uh-sij-uh-luh s]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR acidulous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

slightly sour.
sharp; caustic: his acidulous criticism of the book.
moderately acid or tart; subacid.

RELATED WORDS

acerbic, dry, piquant, sharp, tart, acerb, biting, cutting, mocking, sarcastic, ironical
Also acidulent.

Origin of acidulous

From the Latin word acidulus, dating back to 1760–70. See acid, -ulous
Related formssub·a·cid·u·lous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for acidulous

British Dictionary definitions for acidulous

acidulous

acidulent

adjective

rather sour
sharp or sour in speech, manner, etc; acid

Word Origin for acidulous

C18: from Latin acidulus sourish, diminutive of acidus sour
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for acidulous
adj.

1769, "sub-acidic," used figuratively for "sour-tempered;" from Latin acidulus "slightly sour," a diminutive of acidus (see acid (adj.)).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for acidulous

acidulous

[ə-sĭj′ə-ləs]

adj.

Slightly acid or sour.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.