Synonyms of acrid

acrid

adjective

ˈa-krəd 

1

as in sore

having or showing deep-seated resentment

there have been acrid relations between the two families ever since they fought over that strip of land

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sore
• bitter
• angry
• cynical
• acrimonious
• rancorous
• embittered
• resentful
• sarcastic
• mad
• harsh
• hard
• irritated
• caustic
• vicious
• virulent
• acid
• scornful
• cruel
• disgruntled
• contemptuous
• discontented
• misanthropic
• disdainful
• vehement
• vitriolic
• disaffected
• savage
• trenchant
• mordant
• rough
• malcontent
• cutting
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• knock-down, drag-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warm
• sweet
• sympathetic
• kind
• gentle
• loving
• unbitter
• tender
• forgiving
• caring
• warmhearted
• kindhearted

2

as in satirical

marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings

Phillipa's acrid comments about the new employee's clothes were met by laughter from everyone at the lunch table

Synonyms & Similar Words

• satirical
• satiric
• sarcastic
• acidic
• acid
• barbed
• pungent
• caustic
• corrosive
• acerbic
• biting
• sardonic
• scathing
• acidulous
• mordant
• tart
• sharp
• cynical
• ironical
• acerb
• ironic
• cutting
• harsh
• sour
• scalding
• snarky
• smart-aleck
• blunt
• smart-alecky
• spiky
• dry
• smart-mouthed
• trenchant
• incisive
• concise
• brisk
• severe
• poignant
• wry
• cross
• bitter
• acrimonious
• sourish
• vitriolic
• flippant
• abrupt
• gruff
• spikey
• facetious
• stringent
• resentful
• keen
• brusque
• curt
• pithy
• crisp
• sharp-tongued
• terse
• succinct
• insincere
• tartish
• tongue-in-cheek
• snippy
• rough
• backhanded
• brusk
• snippety

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mild
• amusing
• playful
• merry
• gentle
• bland
• droll
• waggish
• diplomatic
• smooth
• sportive
• polite
• cordial
• urbane
• good-natured
• hospitable
• genial
• gracious
• affable
• good-humored
• suave
• sociable

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acrid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of acrid are caustic, mordant, and scathing. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

When would caustic be a good substitute for acrid?

While in some cases nearly identical to acrid, caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

When can mordant be used instead of acrid?

The words mordant and acrid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

In what contexts can scathing take the place of acrid?

In some situations, the words scathing and acrid are roughly equivalent. However, scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of acrid

As a sanitation worker in New York City for almost two decades, Mr. Martin is well accustomed to tossing bags of acrid, leaky garbage from the curb into the back of a truck. —Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 2 June 2025

Sauza Signature Blue Blanco: An unexpected combination of sweet and acrid in Sauza’s blanco struck some of our tasters as strange, and other contenders struck a better balance. —Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 May 2025

The Beach Boys and the Family Stone represent divergent visions of America that came into acrid conflict over the course of the ’60s. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 12 June 2025

An acrid odor still hung in the air from the gas and flash bang grenades law enforcement fired on protesters Saturday, while scorched asphalt marked the intersection outside a Home Depot where federal authorities had staged. —James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025