WordLens

acerbic

1 of 1adjective
/əˈsɝbɪk/
Forms:more acerbic,most acerbic
1

having a sour, bitter, and acidic taste that is often unpleasant

  • The acerbic flavor of the grapefruit made her wince.
  • He grimaced at the acerbic bite of the unripe lemon.
  • The sauce had an acerbic tang that overwhelmed the dish.
  • That wine was too acerbic for casual sipping.
  • The acerbic taste of the herbal tea lingered on his tongue.
Synonyms:
2

bitingly sarcastic and often cruel in tone or temper

  • Her acerbic comments about the project left everyone feeling demoralized and uncomfortable.
  • The critic’s acerbic review of the film was filled with sharp and cutting remarks.
  • He had an acerbic wit that could entertain but also wound those on the receiving end.
  • The debate took a turn for the worse when his acerbic tone became apparent.
  • Her acerbic response to the suggestion was both surprising and painful for those who heard it.