as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
whispered a steady stream of acerbic comments as the lecturer droned on
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acerbic
Her grandmother though is amused and amusing, fierce and surprising, allowed to be acerbic and to talk to her granddaughter about (literally) life and death topics rather than just dolls and baking and memories.
—
Literary Hub, 7 May 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
Mitski has been trying to rein in an ever-present audience gaze since 2018, when her fuzzy, acerbic fifth album Be the Cowboy garnered near-unanimous praise that led to meeting Taylor Swift.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Jackie Prutsman is suitably acerbic and Aspen Thompson has particular fun with some physical comedy in the second act.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acerbic
Literary Hub, 7 May 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
Mitski has been trying to rein in an ever-present audience gaze since 2018, when her fuzzy, acerbic fifth album Be the Cowboy garnered near-unanimous praise that led to meeting Taylor Swift.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Jackie Prutsman is suitably acerbic and Aspen Thompson has particular fun with some physical comedy in the second act.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for acerbic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerbic
Adjective
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Shah’s closest ally (and the person most willing to call Shah on his lies to himself and others) is his cousin Zulfi, a gigantic character who Khan energizes with fast-talking charm, sarcastic asides, and an assessing glare that can cut through anyone’s defenses.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
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Yet another compared the look to Van Gogh, while others were more than ready to take Bieber up on her presumably sarcastic offer to accept appointments.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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Afroman experienced a cultural renaissance after unleashing that satirical wit following a 2022 raid on his Ohio farmhouse by local sheriff's deputies.—
Andrew Graham
May 28,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
-
For Lili in her darkest hour to summon a little petty annoyance over the wrong milk substitute for her coffee is a satirical grace note in an episode conspicuously short on laughs.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
24 May 2026
Adjective
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Lemon Juice Method Like other acidic ingredients, lemon juice can help tackle mineral buildup and refresh the toilet bowl with a clean, citrus scent.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
2 June 2026
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Club soda is another popular choice, especially for absorbing acidic stains like red wine.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Cage had his arm smashed multiple times, Wheeler had a piece of his nose nearly taken off and barbed wire scraped the skin of each competitor.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
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Homes and gardens sit behind protective walls and gates with barbed wire.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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New York — In New York’s Hudson Valley, the artist Anicka Yi has erected columns bursting with mercurial microbial life, in hues of acid green and coffee, arranged like an archaeological dig at Storm King Art Center.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
29 May 2026
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There are acid critiques of settler colonialism alongside tributes to the majesty of the American landscape, sober revisitations of enslavement alongside hopeful pleas for liberation, bitter denouncements of intervention in wars abroad alongside quaint homages to homespun Americanness.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acerbic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerbic. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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