mordancy

noun

ˈmȯr-dᵊn(t)-sē How to pronounce mordancy (audio)
Definition of mordancynext
as in bitterness
biting sharpness of feeling or expression the surprising mordancy with which the two physicians contested each other's claim to having discovered an effective vaccine for polio

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mordancy The gray-tint, cross-hatched drawings evoke George Cruikshank and Samuel Palmer, but the mordancy is vintage Sendak. — The Week Staff, The Week, 17 Oct. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mordancy
  1. bitterness
  2. severity
  3. hostility
  4. virulency
  5. virulence
  6. bile
  7. malice
  8. anger
Noun
  • Its distinct warm, smoky, and toasted aromas, resulting from the roasting process, offer a unique flavor profile with less bitterness.
    — Carissa Chesanek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Delicate notes of wild berries complement the citrusy hop character and crisp, dry finish, creating a perfect balance of fruity flavor and bitterness.
    — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 21 July 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • The report also examined whether models could achieve arbitrary code execution (ACE)—a high-severity exploit outcome that allows attackers to take control of a target system.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026
  • If you’re offered surgery, ask specifically whether endoscopic decompression is an option and what your electrodiagnostic results say about severity.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Examining the harder chapters of our history is not the same as hostility toward America.
    — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 21 July 2026
  • The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on June 14 to halt hostilities, prompting gas to fall back below $4 a few days later.
    — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • The virulency of Covid-19 trained even those of us who shop locally out of principal to purchase online.
    — Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 2 Mar. 2021
Definition of virulency
Noun
  • Firefighters and authorities in both European countries were caught off guard by the virulence of the fires, which were fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • The virulence of the French and Spanish wildfires, fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change, caught fire crews and authorities off guard.
    — Mark Carlson, Fortune, 25 July 2026
Definition of virulence
Noun
  • So after all that — all the bile oozing out from those tweets — the thing people were mad about wasn’t even true.
    — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026
  • Employees told Fillmore during the early 2022 meeting that Shapiro had recently injured a patient’s common bile duct, a small tube that carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, during surgery.
    — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2026
Definition of bile
Noun
  • Colt Gray, now 16, pleaded guilty to 55 felony counts, including four counts of malice murder, on Friday.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • The suspect, who has not been identified due to his age, faces two counts of malice murder, possession of a pistol by a minor, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 29 July 2026
Definition of malice
Noun
  • Gallup polling found Gen Z’s anger toward AI rose from 22% to 31% over the past year, even as regular usage held roughly steady around half of the cohort, meaning a generation that keeps using a tool it’s increasingly frustrated with.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • Before the recording was played, Judge William Sullivan warned jurors not to allow sympathy, anger, passion or pity to influence their verdict.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of anger

Browse Nearby Words

morbidness
mordancy
mordant
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Cite this Entry

“Mordancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mordancy. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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