acerbic

adjective
UK: /əˈsɜː.bɪk/
US: /əˈsɝː.bɪk/

  1. Sharp and bitter in tone or character; expressing criticism in a direct and often unkind way.

    1. Her acerbic wit made some people uncomfortable.
    2. The film critic's acerbic review savaged the director's latest movie, leaving no room for doubt about his opinion.

  2. Having a sour or bitter taste.

    1. The unripe fruit had an acerbic taste.
    2. The wine had an unexpected acerbic quality, which suggested it might not have aged well.

Synonyms

bitter sharp caustic acidic mordant trenchant

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "acerbic" in English means: Sharp and bitter in tone or character; expressing criticism in a direct and often unkind way., Having a sour or bitter taste..

The phonetic transcription of "acerbic" is /əˈsɜː.bɪk/ in British English and /əˈsɝː.bɪk/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "acerbic": bitter, sharp, caustic, acidic, mordant, trenchant.

Example usage of "acerbic": "Her acerbic wit made some people uncomfortable.". More examples on the page.