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
-
Coel bites into the acerbic bitterness of that history in their early exchanges, with a vein of malice in questions supposedly intended to reveal who Mary has become and hence what kind of dress will feel true to her.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Stephanie Koenig as Poppy, a sardonic dating app regular who tries her luck with Sasha.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Then Alcock landed Sirens, Netflix’s sardonic limited series.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Peters then offered a sarcastic parting line and left the set.—
Ryan Brennan
April 15,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But The Last Five Years’ framework as a caustic duet means that the choice of Cathy can’t be taken lightly.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
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In part, that’s because both actors are delivering impeccable work, balancing their caustic comic chemistry with course, unbridled vulnerability.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
The tom yum spicy-and-sour noodle soup with lemongrass is as bold as ever.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Timur receives Hoja in an extremely sour and defensive mood.—
Perin Gürel,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Smith’s play falls into the rom-com subgenre of screwball comedy, a satirical take on romance that was popular from the 1930s through the 1950s.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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While the show featured many of the same characters, its format strayed from the sci-fi space narrative of Spaceballs and instead was a series of parodies, each episode serving as a satirical commentary on several contemporary hits, such as Lord of the Rings, American Idol and Harry Potter.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dense rows of Xs in the background suggest barbed wire.—
Ben Davis,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The barbed fact is that the woman caught in the middle of this unusual male arrangement benefits from none of their newfound emotional enlightenment.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sharp-tongued.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharp-tongued. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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