Dictionary

acerbic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /əˈsərbɪk/ (US)
• (US) audio
• /əˈsɜː(ɹ)bɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• ə-sûr'bĭk (US)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-rós Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱrós Proto-Italic *akris Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *-dʰh₁-os Proto-Italic *-iðos Proto-Italic *akriðos Latin acerbusder. English acerbic Attested since the 17th century, from Latin acerbus (“sour, bitter”).

Meanings

1. Tasting sour or bitter.
   • Those consumers who object to the acerbic taste of garlic can purchase de-odorized garlic or allicin extract. 1998 August 5, Dr. Peter Gott, “Can inhaler cause addiction?”, in Catoosa County News, retrieved 19 Sep 2009:
2. (figuratively) Sharp, harsh, biting.
   • Supercompetent, superconfident and supercritical, Schmidt is a gifted orator whose acerbic wit earned him the nickname "Schmidt the Lip." 1986 September 22, “West Germany: Last Taunts From the Lip”, in TIME, archived from the original on 14 Feb 2021, retrieved 25 Apr 2014:
   • [H]e is one of the most acerbic people in his field, quick to take offense and not shy about telling people with whom he disagrees how much he thinks they have failed in thought and action. 2005 May 5, Jay Mathews, “Don't Fire This Professor”, in Washington Post, page T6:

Forms

Deriveds

acerbically · acerbicness · unacerbic · nonacerbic

Synonyms

acrid (sharp, biting) · acrimonious (sour or bitter) · acrid (sour or bitter) · acerb (sour or bitter) · acrimonious (sharp, biting) · scathing (sharp, biting)

Translations (46)

pl zgryźliwy (sharp, biting) · fi pureva (sharp, biting) · ca cruel (sharp, biting) · fi sarkastinen (sharp, biting) · ca aspre (sour or bitter) · pt acerbo (sharp, biting) · bg саркастичен (sharp, biting) · pt acerbo (sour or bitter) · de bitter (sour or bitter) · de scharfzüngig (sharp, biting) · ru саркастический (sharp, biting) · eo acerba (sour or bitter) · eo acerba (sharp, biting) · da bitter (sour or bitter) · ca aspre (sharp, biting) · es acerbo (sharp, biting) · es acerbo (sour or bitter) · fi kärkevä (sharp, biting) · sh trpak (sour or bitter) · pl cierpki (sharp, biting) · pl gorzki (sour or bitter) · ca agre (sour or bitter) · de scharf (sharp, biting) · da mopset (sharp, biting) · vi chát (sour or bitter) · bg тръпчив (sour or bitter) · de bissig (sharp, biting) · de ätzend (sharp, biting) · pl uszczypliwy (sharp, biting) · ca acerb (sour or bitter) · ru терпкий (sour or bitter) · de sauer (sour or bitter) · ru язви́тельный (sharp, biting) · sh zajedljiv (sharp, biting) · fi kyyninen (sharp, biting) · ca acerb (sharp, biting) · fi kitkerä (sour or bitter) · pl cierpki (sour or bitter) · ca agre (sharp, biting) · de rau (sharp, biting) · de beißend (sharp, biting) · sv syrlig (sharp, biting) · bg стипчив (sour or bitter) · da sur (sour or bitter) · da syrlig (sharp, biting) · pl kwaśny (sour or bitter)