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
Singer-songwriter Tom Lehrer, a satirist who gained prominence in the 1950s and 1960s for his acerbic take on politics and social life, has died, according to reports.
—
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Season one ends with Chris sitting on his stoop, pondering the complexity of life, next to the ghost of his racist dad, Auggie (Robert Patrick) (it’s inferred that the guy will be hanging around like an acerbic Obi-Wan Kenobi in season 2).
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 July 2025
Unlike today’s top tier defense attorneys, who try to keep big fee, white collar clients out of the papers, Keefe enjoyed the rough and tumble state’s criminal courts and could always delight reporters with an acerbic crack about the opposition.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2025
Nikki Glaser After crushing her hosting duties at the Golden Globes (she’s confirmed to return next year), Glaser, 41, is bringing her risqué acerbic wit to live audiences through October.
62.
—Andrea Lavinthal, People.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for acerbic
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Season one ends with Chris sitting on his stoop, pondering the complexity of life, next to the ghost of his racist dad, Auggie (Robert Patrick) (it’s inferred that the guy will be hanging around like an acerbic Obi-Wan Kenobi in season 2).
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 July 2025
Unlike today’s top tier defense attorneys, who try to keep big fee, white collar clients out of the papers, Keefe enjoyed the rough and tumble state’s criminal courts and could always delight reporters with an acerbic crack about the opposition.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2025
Nikki Glaser After crushing her hosting duties at the Golden Globes (she’s confirmed to return next year), Glaser, 41, is bringing her risqué acerbic wit to live audiences through October.
62.
—Andrea Lavinthal, People.com, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for acerbic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerbic
Adjective
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Althoff’s sarcastic deadpan humor, beguiling personality and awkward line of questioning led her to interviews with Drake, Tyga, Lil Yachty, Rubi Rose, Nick Cannon and Mark Cuban.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
22 Aug. 2025
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What started as a sweet coming-of-age story between Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and her childhood best friend, Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek), took a turn when Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson), Dawson's sarcastic best friend, unexpectedly emerged as a real contender for Joey's heart.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The poem is part love quest, part account of Italy’s battles; in places profoundly serious, in places satiric.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
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Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Water rich in hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide continues to percolate through the rock, creating a mildly acidic cocktail that eats at the walls.—
Jennifer Walker,
CNN Money,
18 Aug. 2025
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For generations, smart cooks have used acidic tomatoes to help soften thick bean hulls.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Blood of My Blood doesn’t shy away from the violence and gore of this war — there is blood and guts and young men dying, there is poison gas and bodies on barbed wire.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Aug. 2025
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Panthers will be stymied by 28,000 feet of barbed wire fencing.—
Elise Bennett,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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From lo-fi hip-hop to chamber pop, from acid funk to orchestral rock, the fingerprints remain.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
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The floors are done in chestnut-toned wood, with acid green carpets made from bamboo silk, while the VVIP suite has its own private sitting room.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acerbic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerbic. Accessed 31 Aug. 2025.
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