acrimonious
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- acrimoniously adverb
- acrimoniousness noun
- unacrimonious adjective
- unacrimoniously adverb
- unacrimoniousness noun
Etymology
Origin of acrimonious
From the Medieval Latin word ācrimōniōsus, dating back to 1605–15. See acrimony, -ous
Explanation
Locked in a mean-spirited, bitter argument? That's an acrimonious situation that might result in fists flying unless you and your opponent can cool down. If you're familiar with the adjective acrid, which means "having a strongly unpleasant taste or smell," you might guess that acrimonious probably refers to something unpleasant, too. And you'd be right. Until the mid-nineteenth century, acrimonious meant the same thing as acrid. But while acrid is still most commonly used in a literal sense (as in "an acrid odor"), acrimonious is now used to describe things like angry and bitter speeches or debates. Both words come to English from the Latin word acer, meaning "sharp." Keep sharp objects locked up if a showdown gets too acrimonious.
Vocabulary lists containing acrimonious
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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To Kill a Mockingbird
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Grade 11, List 5
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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.
The independent inquiry into grooming gangs is about to begin its work after a long and acrimonious row about whether it was needed, what it should examine and who should chair it.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
The ending, which I won’t spoil here, has become a lightning rod of controversy that cannot be destroyed, no matter how much acrimonious electricity it attracts.
From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026
The 20-team tournament had been overshadowed by an acrimonious political build-up.
From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026
His departure from the company became acrimonious, with his lawyer later criticizing how he was treated by Berkshire.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026
Over time, the debate concerning the ANC and the party grew progressively acrimonious.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
