Acerb (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation"; "a vitriolic critique".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The acerb tone of the critic's review left the young artist feeling deflated and discouraged.
- Her acerb comments about the company's financial mismanagement sparked a heated debate among the shareholders.
- The comedian's acerb wit and sarcasm had the audience in stitches, but also left some feeling uncomfortable.
- The acerb language used in the editorial was seen as a reflection of the publication's increasingly divisive tone.
- The politician's acerb response to the journalist's question was widely criticized as being overly aggressive and unprofessional.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Sour or bitter in taste.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The acerb flavor of the lemon made my face pucker.
- The coffee was so acerb that I had to add a lot of sugar to make it drinkable.
- The acerb taste of the medicine made it hard to swallow.
- The acerb juice of the citrus fruit was a shock to my taste buds.
- The acerb flavor of the vinegar was overpowering in the salad dressing.