as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a professor with a rather acerb sense of humor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerb
Adjective
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Green’s teammate, Moses Moody, gave a sarcastic response to Brooks’ assertion.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2025 -
It was followed by a sarcastic post targeting Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That’s the premise of Douglas Is Cancelled, a cruelly funny 2024 BBC sitcom that seems very much in sync with satiric comedies such as The Office and W1A and Yes Minister.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
22 Mar. 2025
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Misery, a horror movie with a satiric streak, launched Bates’s film stardom.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Also, eating large quantities of food can lead to increase acid production and acid reflux.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Gastrointestinal Symptoms Fish oil may stimulate acid production in the stomach, which can cause heartburn or indigestion—especially if taken on an empty stomach.—
Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN,
Verywell Health,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Some also claim that tomatoes turn out sweeter in less acidic soil, though the sugar content of a tomato may have more to do with that.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 May 2025
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Prep the Soil Watermelons are heavy feeders that need full sun, well-draining and slightly acidic soil, and lots of nutrients to grow.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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Negan honored his wife by naming his deadly barbed wire baseball bat after her.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
5 May 2025
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The bat wrapped in barbed wire is back in a new iteration, informing much of Negan’s journey in the Season 2.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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His acerbic critique rendered the subject taboo for a generation, says Victor Mair, an expert on Chinese language at the University of Pennsylvania.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
9 May 2025
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Critics have praised the film for its raw and honest portrayal of a relationship and acerbic wit.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
9 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Acerb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerb. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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