as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
whispered a steady stream of acerbic comments as the lecturer droned on
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acerbic
That acerbic wit, who designed to be at the center of things.
—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Critic Rex Reed, who died Tuesday at 87, built his career on savage, acerbic reviews delivered with little restraint, earning a reputation as a provocateur.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Her grandmother though is amused and amusing, fierce and surprising, allowed to be acerbic and to talk to her granddaughter about (literally) life and death topics rather than just dolls and baking and memories.
—
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Her acerbic inner monologue (voiced by tennis legend John McEnroe) is a clever meta-commentary on her rage issues, but the lead actress is still the series’ highlight.
—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acerbic
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Critic Rex Reed, who died Tuesday at 87, built his career on savage, acerbic reviews delivered with little restraint, earning a reputation as a provocateur.
—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Her grandmother though is amused and amusing, fierce and surprising, allowed to be acerbic and to talk to her granddaughter about (literally) life and death topics rather than just dolls and baking and memories.
—
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Her acerbic inner monologue (voiced by tennis legend John McEnroe) is a clever meta-commentary on her rage issues, but the lead actress is still the series’ highlight.
—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acerbic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerbic
Adjective
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Conversely, Charles Johnson expressed irate objections, and Renato Moicano offered sarcastic remarks.
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There’s the yellow, blue-nosed beaver Norb (Nick Bakay) — witty, sophisticated, sarcastic, and opinionated.
Adjective
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The student was referencing a line from the 1974 satirical film Blazing Saddles, a movie co-written by Richard Pryor.
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Early says that the movie takes much of its aesthetic and satirical cues from director Paul Verhoeven’s films Showgirls (1995) and Starship Troopers (1997).
Adjective
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Some require extreme heat or highly acidic conditions.
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Blooming from late spring to summer and growing well in USDA Zones 7 to 11, gardenias prefer bright, indirect light, acidic, consistently moist soil, and regular feeding with an acidic fertilizer.
Adjective
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Vines have grown through the fence and barbed wire surrounding a tall art deco building in this city’s downtown, and cigarette holders and empty food tins litter the tall weeds.
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What happened to his barbed humanistic wit?
Adjective
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Soft water contains few minerals and is acid.
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So, this is like an acid trip for me.
Cite this Entry
“Acerbic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerbic. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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