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acrimony

American  
[ak-ruh-moh-nee] / ˈæk rəˌmoʊ ni /

noun

  1. sharpness, harshness, or bitterness of nature, speech, disposition, etc..

    The speaker attacked him with great acrimony.
    Synonyms:
    spite, asperity, spitefulness, animosity, bitterness
    Antonyms:
    politeness, kindness, civility, goodwill
acrimony British  
/ ˈækrɪmənɪ /

noun

  1. bitterness or sharpness of manner, speech, temper, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of acrimony

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin ācrimōnia, from ācri-, stem of ācer “sharp, sour” + -mōnia -mony

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.

"Chinese officials probably want to avoid any public display of acrimony with Trump," said Jean-Loup Samaan, senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore's Middle East Institute.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

But too often, they have descended into acrimony as companies and governments argued over specs or who would get the bulk of the contracts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

Sir Keir is seeking to strengthen trading and cultural ties between the two nations after years of acrimony.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

He too left amid acrimony with county officials.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

Maddened, she strove to pique him by excesses of abandonment under his very nose, and was convulsed by fits of corroding acrimony to discover how futile were her efforts.

From The Curse of Koshiu A Chronicle of Old Japan by Wingfield, Lewis

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.