Synonyms of acrid

acrid

adjective

ˈa-krəd 

1

as in sore

having or showing deep-seated resentment

there have been acrid relations between the two families ever since they fought over that strip of land

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sore
• bitter
• angry
• cynical
• acrimonious
• rancorous
• embittered
• resentful
• sarcastic
• mad
• harsh
• hard
• irritated
• caustic
• vicious
• virulent
• acid
• scornful
• cruel
• disgruntled
• contemptuous
• discontented
• misanthropic
• disdainful
• vehement
• vitriolic
• disaffected
• savage
• trenchant
• mordant
• rough
• malcontent
• cutting
• knock-down, drag-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warm
• sweet
• sympathetic
• kind
• gentle
• loving
• unbitter
• tender
• forgiving
• caring
• warmhearted
• kindhearted

2

as in satiric

marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings

Phillipa's acrid comments about the new employee's clothes were met by laughter from everyone at the lunch table

Synonyms & Similar Words

• satiric
• sarcastic
• acidic
• acid
• barbed
• pungent
• caustic
• corrosive
• biting
• acerbic
• sardonic
• scathing
• acidulous
• mordant
• tart
• sharp
• cynical
• ironic
• acerb
• harsh
• cutting
• sour
• scalding
• snarky
• blunt
• smart-aleck
• smart-alecky
• concise
• spiky
• dry
• smart-mouthed
• trenchant
• severe
• incisive
• brisk
• poignant
• wry
• cross
• bitter
• acrimonious
• sourish
• vitriolic
• abrupt
• gruff
• flippant
• facetious
• stringent
• resentful
• keen
• brusque
• curt
• pithy
• crisp
• sharp-tongued
• terse
• succinct
• insincere
• tartish
• tongue-in-cheek
• snippy
• rough
• backhanded
• snippety

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mild
• amusing
• playful
• merry
• gentle
• bland
• droll
• waggish
• diplomatic
• smooth
• sportive
• polite
• cordial
• urbane
• good-natured
• hospitable
• genial
• gracious
• affable
• good-humored
• suave
• sociable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acrid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of acrid are caustic, mordant, and scathing. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

When would caustic be a good substitute for acrid?

While in some cases nearly identical to acrid, caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

When can mordant be used instead of acrid?

The words mordant and acrid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

In what contexts can scathing take the place of acrid?

In some situations, the words scathing and acrid are roughly equivalent. However, scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of acrid

Colwin is an Ephron contemporary, without the acrid humor, but of the same Manhattan kitchens and family dinner tables, perhaps more attuned to quiet, lonely suffering. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025

For example, when trapped or crushed, these beetles release a yellowish defensive fluid from their leg joints that emits a strong, acrid odor and can stain walls or fabrics. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

After joining Alpha Genesis that December, Strickland needed a few days to adjust to the acrid smell of the grounds—feces shot through with ammonia—and to the codes of behavior governing human-macaque interactions. —Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

Day turned to night as thick, acrid clouds blackened the sky. —Robert Wyss, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025