acrimonious

adjective

ˌa-krə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce acrimonious (audio)
Definition of acrimoniousnext
as in angry
having or showing deep-seated resentment an acrimonious parting between the two former friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acrimonious Moraz moved on to the Moody Blues in 1978 and stuck around until 1991, when his acrimonious departure led to a legal battle with his former bandmates that played out on Court TV. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2026 The board’s near-unanimous endorsement of Bell was also a stunning outcome for an acrimonious hiring process that drew scrutiny from high-ranking GOP officials all the way up to the White House. — Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 The Warriors went the entire offseason without making a single signing as the protracted and often acrimonious negotiations took place. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 The contest between Letlow and Fleming became acrimonious at times. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for acrimonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acrimonious
  1. angry
  2. rancorous
  3. sore
  4. cynical
  5. bitter
  6. embittered
  7. acrid
  8. resentful
Adjective
  • At first, Jack felt angry to know his Parkinson’s was likely linked to service to his country.
    — Nicole Borman, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • The Secret Service’s actual procedures turn out to be more like guidelines that can be discarded if the president is sufficiently angry—which, from the standpoint of safeguarding democracy, constitutes a fairly concerning loophole.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of angry
Adjective
  • His supporters rewarded him with a landslide victory, then held their tongues as the Conservative leader bowed to rancorous calls to resign amid the Partygate scandal after three years in office.
    — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 June 2026
  • Simon Pegg’s Angels in the Asylum and Cara Delevingne vehicle The Climb both went down amid similarly rancorous stories of producers running into financing issues, despite having committed to crewing up.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 22 June 2026
Definition of rancorous
Adjective
  • What’s actually opening (and what’s gone) The 300 block of Houston Street, long a sore spot after Reata Restaurant left for the Tower in 2024, may soon show signs of life.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
  • But don’t let a sore back prevent you from tackling this gardening task.
    — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 July 2026
Definition of sore
Adjective
  • Tentpoles with integrity will be especially important as generative AI makes the industry’s appetite for replicable content more cynical by the day.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 July 2026
  • In its portrayal of cross-gender relations, the series is consistently cruel to women, insulting to men, empathetic toward nobody and cynical about everything.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • An Old Tom gin, with its softer profile and slight sweetness, can round out the drink but may also compromise the precise balance of bitter, sweet and dry that defines a true Negroni.
    — Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Young grapes lack sugars that would otherwise bind with bitter-tasting phenols in wildfire smoke.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
Definition of bitter
Adjective
  • Page, an imposing figure in his double-breasted suit, can add a seductive lilt to his booming bass or an icy edge that provides a peek into his embittered soul.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • An embittered fanbase is seeing reason to buy back into its team.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Definition of embittered
Adjective
  • And then, on cue, Saturday thunderstorms compelled the acrid haze to stray.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • From torrid heat waves, to deadly flash floods, to raging wildfires and their associated acrid smoke — the signs are all around us, right now.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of acrid
Adjective
  • Unsurprisingly, residents hate the idea and are resentful that they were blindsided by the announcement.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
  • In Agamemnon’s memory, Clytemnestra is as soft as Helen is hard, as fawning as Helen is resentful.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Definition of resentful

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acrimonious
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Cite this Entry

“Acrimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acrimonious. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on acrimonious

Nglish: Translation of acrimonious for Spanish Speakers

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