vinegary

[vin-i-guh-ree]

adjective

1. of the nature of or resembling vinegar; sour; acid.

   a vinegary taste.

2. having a disagreeable character or manner; crabbed; ill-tempered.

   a vinegary person.

ˈvinegary

/ ˈvɪnɪɡərɪ /

adjective

1. containing vinegar; tasting of or like vinegar

2. bad-tempered, sour, or peevish

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinegary¹

First recorded in 1720–30; vinegar + -y ¹

Example Sentences

And dill pickles, which might sound rogue, but trust me: they’re the vinegary little high note that brings the whole thing into focus.

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Mr. Brisbane looked a little vinegary again on Monday morning, though.

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His foil is the vinegary, steely-spined principal, Sister Aloysius, who forbids the kids to sing “Frosty the Snowman” and is suspicious of ballpoint pens.

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“A lot of time, you have these cold noodle dishes, and the sauce is either way too salty, or too vinegary or sweet. Just the way they balanced this, a bit savory, sweet and nutty.”

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Don’t miss your choice of creamy or vinegary potato salad, nor the meat-salad that is fleischsalat, if you go that way.

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Related Words

• acid 
• acidic 
• acrid 
• biting 
• bitter 
• briny 
• caustic 
• fermented www.thesaurus.com
• musty 
• peppery 
• piquant 
• pungent 
• rancid 
• sharp 
• soured www.thesaurus.com
• unpleasant