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Meaning of acerbic
The primary meaning of the word "acerbic" is having a sharp and sour quality, often used to describe someone's tone, language, or manner as being sharply critical or sarcastic.
Etymology of acerbic
The word "acerbic" originates from the Latin word "acerbus," meaning sour or bitter, and the suffix "-ic," which forms an adjective
Historically, the word "acerbic" was first used in the 17th century to describe something that had a sour or bitter taste, and later its meaning expanded to include a sharp or critical tone or manner
Synonyms
caustic
acidic
sharp
tart
bitter
biting
sarcastic
sardonic
ironic
acrimonious
venomous
vitriolic
harsh
severe
critical
scathing
trenchant
keen
piercing
incisive
cutting
mordant
corrosive
abrasive
rough
coarse
rude
crude
unkind
unpleasant
disagreeable
distasteful
unpalatable
nasty
spiteful
malicious
hurtful
wounding
offensive
insulting
disparaging
derogatory
belittling
demeaning
deprecating
Definitions
- Having a sharp and sour quality, often used to describe a tone, language, or manner that is sharply critical or sarcastic
- Having a sharp, unpleasant taste or smell, often used to describe something that is sour or bitter
- Using or characterized by sharp, bitter, or caustic language or mannerisms
Usage Examples
- The comedian's acerbic wit had the audience in stitches, but also made some people uncomfortable
- The acerbic tone of the review made it clear that the critic did not enjoy the movie
- Her acerbic comments about the food at the restaurant made us laugh, but also made us wonder if we should try it