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
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
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
-
The subtle bitterness is complemented with creamy cheese and a mouth-puckering lemon dressing.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
-
There is no apparent bitterness on Ward’s part over being parked in Triple-A for so long, watching so many of his teammates get promoted.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The four-piece set—a loveseat, two chairs, and a matching table—comfortably seats up to four, providing a perfect spot for small bites and drinks.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Wisconsin Watch is a member of the Gigafact program, newsrooms across the US that deliver bite-sized fact checks of trending claims.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The texture is a bit sticky, though blends out with ease for soft edges and a natural finish.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Louis Latour’s 2024 Chassagne Montrachet has aromas of honeycomb, pineapple, and white flowers with bright acidity and flavors of vanilla, pear, and marzipan.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Even with its bright look, scientists compare the water’s acidity to everyday liquids like vinegar or orange juice.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Acerbity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerbity. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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