acrimonious

[ ak-ruh-moh-nee-uhs ]

adjective

1. caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature, speech, behavior, etc.:

   an acrimonious answer; an acrimonious dispute.

acrimonious

/ ˌækrɪˈməʊnɪəs /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

• ˌacriˈmoniousness, noun
• ˌacriˈmoniously, adverb

Other Words From

• ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ly adverb
• ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ness noun
• un·ac·ri·mo·ni·ous adjective
• un·ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ly adverb
• un·ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acrimonious¹

From the Medieval Latin word ācrimōniōsus, dating back to 1605–15. See acrimony, -ous

Example Sentences

But the academy was critical of the "increasingly acrimonious and destructive debate" which it said had been fuelled by unsubstantiated comments on social media and was damaging teamwork across the health service.

From BBC

The Academy of Royal Colleges has also called for an independent review into the use of associates because of an "increasingly acrimonious and destructive debate".

From BBC

The 2024 race against Tran proved to be a costly and acrimonious campaign as the Democratic Party pushed to capture the seat centered in Orange County’s Little Saigon community.

From Los Angeles Times

After an expensive and acrimonious primary battle among Democrats, the general election race for the seat was sleepy, bordering on dull.

From Los Angeles Times

But they have fallen out and their relations have become even more acrimonious since both announced their intention to run as the Mas party's candidate in the 2025 presidential election.

From BBC

Related Words

• belligerent
• bitter
• caustic
• petulant
• rancorous
• testy