astringent

American  

[uh-strin-juhnt] / əˈstrɪn dʒənt /

adjective

1. Medicine/Medical. contracting; constrictive; styptic.

2. harshly biting; caustic.

   his astringent criticism.

   Synonyms:

   rigorous, harsh, sharp

3. stern or severe; austere.

   Synonyms:

   rigorous, harsh, sharp

4. sharply incisive; pungent.

   astringent wit.

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noun

1. Medicine/Medical. a substance that contracts the tissues or canals of the body, thereby diminishing discharges, as of mucus or blood.

2. a cosmetic that cleans the skin and constricts the pores.

astringent British  

/ əˈstrɪndʒənt /

adjective

1. severe; harsh

2. sharp or invigorating

3. causing contraction of body tissues, checking blood flow, or restricting secretions of fluids; styptic

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noun

1. an astringent drug or lotion

astringent Scientific  

/ ə-strĭn′jənt /

1. A substance or preparation, such as alum, that draws together or constricts body tissues, resulting in decreased flow of blood or other secretions.

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Related Words

See acid.

Other Word Forms

• astringency noun
• astringently adverb
• nonastringency noun
• nonastringent adjective
• nonastringently adverb

Etymology

Origin of astringent

1535–45; < Latin astringent- (stem of astringēns ) present participle of astringere to astringe; see -ent

Explanation

You know that vinegar-like liquid teens put on their faces in order to tighten their pores and dry up their pimples? That's astringent. An astringent personality, on the other hand, is perceived as bitter and perhaps even a bit toxic. Astringent may be a lifesaver for an acne-prone teen, but when the term is used as an adjective and applied to you personally, it's less positive. Since astringents are acid-based, an astringent personality can also be corrosive. If someone is prone to biting sarcasm and cynicism, he probably has an astringent view of the world.

Example Sentences

Their study, published in Current Research in Food Science, examined whether the distinctive astringent taste of flavanols could itself act as a signal to the brain.

From Science Daily • Feb. 7, 2026

It was musty and slightly astringent, not unlike the communal bin area in his block of flats.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2025

Touchet — she pronounces it the French way — is observant and astringent, tall and imposing.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 30, 2023

Having had their California moment, the young heroes of this dreamlike yet astringent comedy come home to Oklahoma for Season 3.

From New York Times • Jun. 1, 2023

As Dill hurried to class, he caught a whiff of some astringent industrial cleaning chemical.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner