as in acerbic
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Recent Examples of sharp-tongued
As an elite investigative journalist for the fictional news show FYI, Murphy was the ultimate career icon—sharp-tongued, unapologetic, and fiercely competitive.
—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Much like this Air sign, Chucky is sharp-tongued, switching between clever and terror in an instant.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
With his sharp-tongued, Vespa-riding producer Sadaf by his side, Bahram embarks on an underground mission to showcase his film to an Iranian audience, dodging government censors, absurd bureaucracy, and his own self-doubts.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 July 2025
The film follows Kat Stratford, a fiercely independent and sharp-tongued teenager played by Julia Stiles who has no interest in dating.
—Jane Lacroix, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Based on a copy of the script obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, those scenes depict three moments in which Rowling — portrayed as strong-willed and sharp-tongued but far from a villain — faces off with key male figures from her life: her first book editor, her abusive ex-husband and her father.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 July 2024
And its theater-kid earnestness and sharp-tongued lyrics are reminiscent of another pop upstart who works with Nigro: Olivia Rodrigo.
—Shaad D’souza, New York Times, 22 May 2024
In Israel, the meticulous and sharp-tongued Mr. Zamir became a target of the nation’s questions and grief after Munich as one of the first Mossad chiefs to face intense public inquiry.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2024
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Much like this Air sign, Chucky is sharp-tongued, switching between clever and terror in an instant.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
With his sharp-tongued, Vespa-riding producer Sadaf by his side, Bahram embarks on an underground mission to showcase his film to an Iranian audience, dodging government censors, absurd bureaucracy, and his own self-doubts.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 July 2025
The film follows Kat Stratford, a fiercely independent and sharp-tongued teenager played by Julia Stiles who has no interest in dating.
—Jane Lacroix, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
Based on a copy of the script obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, those scenes depict three moments in which Rowling — portrayed as strong-willed and sharp-tongued but far from a villain — faces off with key male figures from her life: her first book editor, her abusive ex-husband and her father.
—Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 July 2024
And its theater-kid earnestness and sharp-tongued lyrics are reminiscent of another pop upstart who works with Nigro: Olivia Rodrigo.
—Shaad D’souza, New York Times, 22 May 2024
In Israel, the meticulous and sharp-tongued Mr. Zamir became a target of the nation’s questions and grief after Munich as one of the first Mossad chiefs to face intense public inquiry.
—Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 20 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharp-tongued
Adjective
-
Her acerbic inner monologue (voiced by tennis legend John McEnroe) is a clever meta-commentary on her rage issues, but the lead actress is still the series’ highlight.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Apr. 2026
-
While Bright Lights is a clinically sound and narratively solid depiction of a sickness, this movie adaptation lacks the novel’s deliciously acerbic descriptions of New York’s sick social scene as well as its protagonist’s self-aware commentaries.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Then Alcock landed Sirens, Netflix’s sardonic limited series.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Ultimately, Latinos are reduced to side characters, save for Benicio del Toro's sardonic karate sensei.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Houston Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The fans gave him a sarcastic slow-clap, prompting him to wave his arms in encouragement.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
So sarcastic remarks can be ironic, but ironic remarks are not necessarily sarcastic.—
Ayana Archie,
NPR,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In Tehran, military strikes have turned the sky black and the air caustic, a stark reminder that modern war runs on carbon.—
Brian Lee,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Hester is a caustic yet irresistible narrator, and this evocation of her journey across America reads as both hate mail and love letter to a complex country.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
This will be a bumper quarter for oil and gas shareholders, who have always learned to stick it out through the doldrums for spikey periods like this.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But a few things stick out as incorrect: The costume Diplo is wearing in the video does not match the actual, taller and spikier grassy costumes worn during the show.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Drohan has overcome significant injury adversity to reach the majors, but his dream moment took a sour turn when his command abandoned him in the bottom of the third.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Views on economy dive as gas prices surge Views of the state’s economic future have also grown more sour amid general economic malaise nationally and rising prices.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Among them is a memoir by Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines, and a satirical book about Fauci by Robert Kennedy III.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
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Dayle’s satirical novel follows a white flag-bearer pretending to be a Black soldier during the Civil War.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Nyuyen’s compound was surrounded by a 12-ft wall of barbed wire and guard posts.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Tangled pieces of barbed wire, reams of rubble and fallen concrete scarred the skyline in Karaj, western Iran, on Friday, after the US military bombed a major new bridge under construction.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharp-tongued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp-tongued. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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