acrid

[ ak-rid ]

adjective

1. sharp or biting to the taste or smell; bitterly pungent; irritating to the eyes, nose, etc.:

   acrid smoke from burning rubber.

2. extremely or sharply stinging or bitter; exceedingly caustic:

   acrid remarks.

acrid

/ əˈkrɪdɪtɪ; ˈækrɪd /

adjective

1. unpleasantly pungent or sharp to the smell or taste
2. sharp or caustic, esp in speech or nature

Derived Forms

• ˈacridly, adverb
• acridity, noun

Other Words From

• a·crid·i·ty [uh, -, krid, -i-tee], ac·rid·ness noun
• ac·rid·ly adverb
• sub·ac·rid adjective
• sub·ac·rid·ly adverb
• sub·ac·rid·ness noun
• suba·crid·i·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acrid¹

1705–15; < Latin ācr- (stem of ācer ) sharp, sour + -id ⁴, perhaps through influence of acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of acrid¹

C18: from Latin ācer sharp, sour; probably formed on the model of acid

Related Words

• acrimonious
• vitriolic