acrid

American  

[ak-rid] / ˈæk rɪd /

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.

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acrid British  

/ əˈkrɪdɪtɪ, ˈækrɪd /

adjective

1. unpleasantly pungent or sharp to the smell or taste

2. sharp or caustic, esp in speech or nature

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Other Word Forms

• acridity noun
• acridly adverb
• acridness noun
• subacrid adjective
• subacridity noun
• subacridly adverb
• subacridness noun

Etymology

Origin of acrid

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

Example Sentences

For years, residents and students had repeatedly complained about acrid odors from the site, with many suffering chronic headaches and nosebleeds.

From Los Angeles Times

I can smell the scent of her acrid medication mixing with the sweetness of flowers blooming in the humid afternoon heat.

From Literature

As he spoke, he added a handful of leaves to the cauldron, and a bitter, acrid scent rose from it.

From Literature

She said nothing to her sisters, but instead quickened her pace, running in the direction of the acrid scent.

From Literature

The acrid smoke wafting from burning waste in her neighbourhood in Nigeria's biggest city, Lagos, made it hard to breathe.

From Barron's

Related Words

• pungent
• stinging