1
as in acidic
causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids
a slightly acidulous drink that is far more refreshing than the overly sweet iced tea that is also available
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2
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a gently acidulous writing style that never becomes annoying
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Recent Examples of acidulous
Six days a week, its chirpy, acidulous anchors expose the shortcomings of cabinet ministers and their opposition shadows.
—
Dominic Green, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022
Ray collaborated with the cinematographer Harry Stradling to create a screeching, acidulous palette of yellows, reds, and greens that stand out all the more against Ray’s calculated array of black-and-white outfits.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2022
Sharp observations like these show us glimpses of the acidulous social satirist of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
—Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2021
Sourced from Provence, the purple plant is balanced out by acidulous Italian bergamot and spicy-sweet tonka bean.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 6 June 2019
Dominic Green, WSJ, 11 Nov. 2022
Ray collaborated with the cinematographer Harry Stradling to create a screeching, acidulous palette of yellows, reds, and greens that stand out all the more against Ray’s calculated array of black-and-white outfits.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2022
Sharp observations like these show us glimpses of the acidulous social satirist of Hollywood’s Golden Age.
—Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2021
Sourced from Provence, the purple plant is balanced out by acidulous Italian bergamot and spicy-sweet tonka bean.
—Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 6 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acidulous
Adjective
-
Use fertile, moist, slightly acidic soil that’s well-draining, and amend it with compost or other organic matter.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Never use any acidic material on copper sinks.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Even an otherwise neutral comment can be contorted into a sarcastic retort, an insult or a counterattack.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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On the par-4 14th, Scheffler splashed out of a greenside bunker to 10 feet, missed the par putt, and then, without hesitation, threw a sarcastic fist pump toward the hole.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This touchscreen pod machine has a lot to offer, including rich, balanced, coffee; a whopping eight brewing sizes; one-touch presets for low-acid, Americano, iced coffee, and cold brew; plus customizable temperature control and brew strength.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
29 Aug. 2025
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How does the new silver extraction method work The technology, known as Jet Electrochemical Silver Extraction (JESE), uses a fine stream of weak acid to dissolve silver directly from the panel surface in seconds—the acid stream targets only the silver, leaving everything else untouched.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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White Noise Noah Baumbach's 2022 satirical drama stars Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig — who married Baumbach in 2023 after dating for 12 years — play a married couple in the 1980s.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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While the homage is heartfelt, and certainly packs its share of genuine laughs, the end result can’t escape feeling like a hodgepodge, incapable of cohesively blending the satirical elements with the earnest messaging foremost on its mind.—
Michael Rechtshaffen,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Thailand says the barbed wire was set up to prevent the planting of mines and is on its own land.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Aug. 2025
-
No one else writes with such wounding, barbed wit.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Acidulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acidulous. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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