Acerbic
/əˈsɜː(ɹ)bɪk/ adj
adj ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Tasting sour or bitter.
"Those consumers who object to the acerbic taste of garlic can purchase de-odorized garlic or allicin extract."
- 2 Sharp, harsh, biting. figuratively
"Supercompetent, superconfident and supercritical, Schmidt is a gifted orator whose acerbic wit earned him the nickname "Schmidt the Lip.""
Adjective
- 1 harsh or corrosive in tone wordnet
- 2 sour or bitter in taste wordnet
Antonyms
All antonymsExample
More examples"I'll try to stay on your good side, lest I get cut in two by that acerbic tongue of yours."
Etymology
Attested since the 17th century, from Latin acerbus (“sour, bitter”).