Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of a harsh character.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Sour or severe.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Sour or bitter.
  • adjective Sarcastic or cynical.
  • adjective Sharp-tempered.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective sour or bitter in taste
  • adjective harsh or corrosive in tone

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Circa 17th century, from Latin acerbus ("sour, bitter").

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Examples

  • Jane Lynch, known as acerbic cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester on "Glee," will host the event.

    msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines 2011

  • Frances, 69, best known as the acerbic host of The Weakest Link, is the only silent presence in the room.

    AustralianIT.com.au | Top Stories 2010

  • Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's sitcom "Maude" and as the strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak on the long-running "The Golden Girls," died today.

    The Bilerico Project 2009

  • LOS ANGELES - Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's sitcom "Maude" and as the strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak on the long-running "The Golden Girls," died Saturday.

    unknown title 2009

  • Cowell, 50, best-known as the acerbic judge on America's top-rated TV singing contest

    Reuters: Top News 2009

  • LOS ANGELES - Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's sitcom "Maude" and as the strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak on the long-running "The Golden Girls," died Saturday.

    unknown title 2009

  • Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's sitcom "Maude" and as the strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak on the long-running "The Golden Girls," died Saturday.

    The Seattle Times 2009

  • Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's television sitcom

    post-gazette.com - News 2009

  • LOS ANGELES - Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's sitcom "Maude" and as the strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak on the long-running "The Golden Girls," died Saturday.

    The Seattle Times 2009

  • Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's sitcom "Maude" and as the strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak on the long-running "The Golden Girls," died today.

    Zap2it.com - Zap 2 News & Buzz 2009

Comments

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  • acid in temper, mood, or tone

    lovely possibilities here :)

    October 2, 2007

  • similar to mordant

    June 23, 2008

  • the poison pen

    March 11, 2011

  • adjective: harsh in tone

    Most movie critics are acerbic towards summer blockbusters, often referring to them as garbage.

    October 19, 2016

  • (especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

    An acerbic wit.

    November 1, 2023