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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerb
Adjective
-
In addition to Miranda's scathing remarks to Andy (Anne Hathaway) while trying to complete seemingly impossible tasks, Emily (Emily Blunt) and Nigel (Stanley Tucci) taught her how to navigate office politics with their own sarcastic comments.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
3 May 2026 -
Middle of Nowhere’s Kacey is witty, a bit sarcastic, alternately ecstatic and frustrated but always ready to entertain.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Part satirical, part political, the BAFTA-winning film and subsequent album, Fine Art — a level up from their 2018 Irish-language mixtape 3CAG — solidified Kneecap’s place in music, earning them fans worldwide who come out in droves to their gigs and turning them into a popular festival draw.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
6 May 2026
-
The Boys is an American satirical dark comedy television show that flips the conventional superhero narrative on its head by imagining a society where superpowers are abused for influence and profit.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
5 May 2026
Adjective
-
If choosing wines, focus on bright, higher-acid white wines that cut through the mouth-coating fattiness of cheese.—
Anna Lee Iijima,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This summery salad is a lesson in salt, fat, acid, and heat.—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Avoid using vinegar and other acidic cleaners to clean glass doors in showers with natural stone because the acidity can etch or damage the finish.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 May 2026
-
Sodium bisulfate is an acidic salt often used to lower pH in swimming pools, spas and industrial water systems, and is also used in metal finishing, food processing, cleaning products and sanitizing.—
Kris Habermehl,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Through the 1960s, Black residents could not attend movies or plays at the segregated theater, and the property long had a fence topped with barbed wire facing the neighborhood.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
-
Against the backdrop of prison watchtowers and barbed wire, the day in Joliet featured three hours’ worth of pregame festivities, including 15 food trucks serving delicacies as quintessential as hot dogs and as unique as gourmet pasta in garlic bread cones.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Coel bites into the acerbic bitterness of that history in their early exchanges, with a vein of malice in questions supposedly intended to reveal who Mary has become and hence what kind of dress will feel true to her.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 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
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.
Cite this Entry
“Acerb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerb. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
