acerb

adjective

ə-ˈsərb How to pronounce acerb (audio)
Definition of acerbnext
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
  1. sarcastic
  2. satiric
  3. acid
  4. acidic
  5. barbed
  6. acerbic
Adjective
  • The pilot is charming and funny, immediately drawing me into the dynamic of its two characters — Romy is a bit more gregarious and sarcastic, Bobby more sensitive and sullen.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
  • Obviously, Dawkins is being very sarcastic here, but that’s the type of relationship these two share.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • Much of that expansion has been driven by the Cockroach Janta Party, a satirical group that started the movement two months ago.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • Currently, Jon Stewart hosts the satirical news program on Mondays, sharing anchor duties with a rotating team of senior correspondents on the other days of the week.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • There was an acid trip of a halftime show starring Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Shakira.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 July 2026
  • Lithium-ion, lead-acid, sodium-ion and other technologies all have a role to play in the electrification landscape.
    — Darren Tan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of acid
Adjective
  • How To Care For Onions In Pots Onions prefer well-draining, loamy, and slightly acidic to neutral soil, such as potting soil with compost mixed in.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 22 July 2026
  • The way the soil responds will give you an idea of whether your soil is acidic, alkaline, or neutral.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • The confrontation between father and daughter, in which Taylor-Joy unloads Lucky’s resentments about growing up in the life, is one of the season’s most barbed moments.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026
  • But his view of Adrian’s methods, goals, and way of life end up making the bond of mentorship both tenuous and barbed.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Definition of barbed
Adjective
  • So Knox introduces Juliette to the acerbic ex-miner Mark Chambers, who also tells Madame Mayor to forget about Lukas.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • At the level of style, there was nothing obviously flamboyant about Allen’s music, nor her presence on stage, the quiet, acerbic composure of her delivery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Definition of acerbic
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.

Browse Nearby Words

acequias
acerb
acerbic
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Cite this Entry

“Acerb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerb. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of acerb for Spanish Speakers

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