acerbic
Americanadjective
-
sour or astringent in taste.
Lemon juice is acerbic.
-
harsh or severe, as of temper or expression.
acerbic criticism.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- acerbically adverb
- unacerbic adjective
- unacerbically adverb
Etymology
Origin of acerbic
1860–65; < Latin acerb ( us ) sour, unripe, bitterly harsh + -ic, irregular for -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Australia's acerbic media did not hold back in their criticism, citing selection "stuff-ups" and "shambolic" preparations, including a 3-0 pre-tournament series loss in Pakistan, for the embarrassment.
From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026
Yet it’s also, via Hart’s acerbic bon mots, an incisive exploration of two opposing views of art.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025
In previous administrations, Defense Department officials — including the acerbic Rumsfeld — would hold regular press briefings, often twice a week.
From Salon • Oct. 15, 2025
An acerbic news editor, using a tone that might get him into trouble these days, told me to leave the building to use my own eyes and ears, and to talk to people.
From BBC • Sep. 23, 2025
There were a million things she could say in acerbic response, of course, but Dimple still hadn’t ruled out asking to enroll in Insomnia Con if the opportunity presented itself.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
