as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
the customer made his displeasure known with more acerbity than was necessary
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of acerbity
The third element of the trio is Mary Flynn, played by the terrific Lindsey Mendez, a 2018 Tony winner for Carousel, with a natural warmth that offsets the character’s growing acerbity.
—
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2022
The Brodie books demonstrate her great facility with genre, pairing pulse-quickening suspense with Atkinson’s distinctive blend of puckishness and acerbity.
—Sarah Chihaya, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2022
Mazower notes with some acerbity that no king of Greece died quietly in office before 1947 . . .
—Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021
Rarely does a reviewer convey her opinion of a book’s strengths and weaknesses with such grace and acerbity.
—New York Times, 4 Dec. 2020
The Academy Awards for the movies of 1988 were awash in bluntness, cruelty and acerbity.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020
There is, however, something respectable and clarifying about its commitment to acerbity.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired, 7 Sep. 2020
Overly harsh with citrus, the fish was like an Italianate ceviche, and its acerbity drowned the satiny, subtle panna cotta.
—Kate Washington, sacbee, 11 May 2018
By now Dimon is nearly iconic in his acerbity and general spikiness.
—Daniel Gross, Slate Magazine, 17 July 2017
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2022
The Brodie books demonstrate her great facility with genre, pairing pulse-quickening suspense with Atkinson’s distinctive blend of puckishness and acerbity.
—Sarah Chihaya, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2022
Mazower notes with some acerbity that no king of Greece died quietly in office before 1947 . . .
—Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021
Rarely does a reviewer convey her opinion of a book’s strengths and weaknesses with such grace and acerbity.
—New York Times, 4 Dec. 2020
The Academy Awards for the movies of 1988 were awash in bluntness, cruelty and acerbity.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2020
There is, however, something respectable and clarifying about its commitment to acerbity.
—Kate Knibbs, Wired, 7 Sep. 2020
Overly harsh with citrus, the fish was like an Italianate ceviche, and its acerbity drowned the satiny, subtle panna cotta.
—Kate Washington, sacbee, 11 May 2018
By now Dimon is nearly iconic in his acerbity and general spikiness.
—Daniel Gross, Slate Magazine, 17 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerbity
Noun
-
There’s also an on-site bar/lounge serving wine, cocktails, and light bites, and a coffee shop and cafe located next door in the Salish Visitors Center.—
Elizabeth Brownfield,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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This potential trilogy is off to a solid — if not spectacular — start, though more bite would have been welcome.—
Mark Meszoros,
Boston Herald,
19 June 2025
Noun
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Raúl Jiménez brought the crowd out of its stupor less than two minutes into the second half, chasing a through ball from Santiago Giménez into the penalty area, then finishing with his right foot from the edge of the six-yard box to double the lead.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
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That’s why more discerning buyers are setting their sights on The Village of Loch Lloyd, a hidden treasure on the southern edge of the metro.—
Loch Lloyd Residential Real Estate,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2025
Noun
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The fruity notes were a perfect foil for the fresh, crunchy vegetables and savory cod, with the wine’s texture and acidity providing a refreshing finish to each bite.—
Liz Thach,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Widespread in the Trapani region as well as throughout Agrigento and Palermo, Grillo is an aromatic white that has terrific acidity and excellent structure.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acerbity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerbity. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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