acidulous

adjective

acid·​u·​lous ə-ˈsi-jə-ləs 

: somewhat acid or harsh in taste or manner

Synonyms

• acidic
• acid

Examples of acidulous in a Sentence

a slightly acidulous drink that is far more refreshing than the overly sweet iced tea that is also available

a gently acidulous writing style that never becomes annoying

Recent Examples on the Web

Six days a week, its chirpy, acidulous anchors expose the shortcomings of cabinet ministers and their opposition shadows. —Dominic Green, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022

Ray collaborated with the cinematographer Harry Stradling to create a screeching, acidulous palette of yellows, reds, and greens that stand out all the more against Ray’s calculated array of black-and-white outfits. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2022

Sharp observations like these show us glimpses of the acidulous social satirist of Hollywood’s Golden Age. —Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2021

Sourced from Provence, the purple plant is balanced out by acidulous Italian bergamot and spicy-sweet tonka bean. —Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 6 June 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin acidulus "slightly sour," from acidus "sour" + -ulus, attenuating suffix — more at acid entry 2

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

acidulous

adjective

acid·​u·​lous ə-ˈsij-ə-ləs 

: somewhat acid to the taste