acerbic

adjective

acer·​bic ə-ˈsər-bik How to pronounce acerbic (audio)
a-
: sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper, mood, or tone
acerbic commentary
an acerbic reviewer
acerbically adverb

Did you know?

English speakers created acerbic in the 19th century by adding -ic to the adjective acerb. Acerb had been around since the 17th century, but for most of that time it had been used only to describe foods with a sour taste. (Acerb is still around today, but now it's simply a less common synonym of acerbic.) Acerbic and acerb ultimately come from the Latin adjective acerbus, which can mean "harsh" or "unpleasant." Another English word that comes from acerbus is exacerbate, which means "to make more violent or severe."

Examples of acerbic in a Sentence

Whitney has graced magazine covers for her acerbic and blunt evisceration of the banks she has covered. Several weeks ago, she left her well-paid post at Oppenheimer to start her own economic consultancy, where she will charge many of her employer's clients for her own unambiguous analysis. Zachary Karabell, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2009
… we probably have no choice but to enjoy Private Lives on its own terms—as a play that exults in its total lack of a public dimension. Coward's acerbic wit, his submerged sensibility, and his clipped semantics actually had a profound influence on the styles of virtually all the English dramatists who followed him … Robert Brustein, New Republic, 10 June 2002
… discovery of self-esteem and New Agey conclusions ("I discovered there was a goddess deep inside me") are something that an acerbic comedian like Cho shouldn't embrace without irony. Publishers Weekly, 7 May 2001
We want to experience how someone as acerbic as Jane Austen, as morally passionate as Dostoyevsky, as psychologically astute as Henry James makes sense of the chaos of this world. Laura Miller, New York Times Book Review, 15 Mar. 1998
the film's most acerbic critics whispered a steady stream of acerbic comments as the lecturer droned on
Recent Examples on the Web Beyond her claim to the Hollywood throne, Fisher was known for her acerbic wit and frankness about the rough-and-tumble nature of the industry. Fran Hoepfner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024 The record harnesses the bigger budget to sprawl outwards in every direction, mashing James Smith’s acerbic bar-stool raconteurism into grooves that might evoke Fela Kuti or Beastie Boys, with guests including Gorillaz producer Remi Kabaka Jr., and Rose Matafeo. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 1 Mar. 2024 Lewis belonged to a class of young stand-ups, like Seinfeld and Bill Maher, who were influenced by the acerbic Everyman persona of Robert Klein. Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Directed by the Coen Brothers, Inside Llewyn Davis follows an acerbic singer (Oscar Isaac) who is spiraling financially and emotionally after the death of his best friend and music partner. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 What To Watch This Weekend: New TV Shows And Movies To Stream On Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime And More Ousley perfectly portrays Sokka, who is Katara’s acerbic yet resourceful 16-year-old brother. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 The medications and ambulatory equipment in her home, along with the sorrow discernible beneath her acerbic demeanor, indicate that her sister has died recently and perhaps that Lia made a promise to find her missing daughter. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2024 Red Footwear Is in for Spring By Laura Jackson Jane Austen’s acerbic wit takes center stage in Whit Stillman’s social satire based on her epistolary novel Lady Susan. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2024 In 2022, when Yard Act released their acerbic debut, The Overload, the current lineup hadn’t even played in a room together. Jenessa Williams, Pitchfork, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acerbic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

acerb + -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acerbic was in 1865

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Dictionary Entries Near acerbic

Cite this Entry

“Acerbic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acerbic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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