Synonyms of tartness

tartness

noun

1

as in bitterness

a harsh or sharp quality

there's a tartness to this movie critic's reviews that's a little tiresome

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bitterness
• bite
• edge
• acidity
• spice
• acerbity
• poignancy
• pungency
• harshness
• sharpness
• severity
• poignance
• acridity
• roughness
• tang
• acuteness
• acrimony
• acridness
• punch
• asperity
• ginger
• keenness
• acidness
• severeness
• acrimoniousness
• virulence
• shrillness
• vitriol
• maliciousness
• raucousness
• pointedness
• thorniness
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softness
• gentleness
• mildness
• kindliness

2

as in severity

biting sharpness of feeling or expression

there's a telltale tartness between these two teams that nobody could miss

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bitterness
• severity
• hostility
• acidity
• virulence
• malice
• bile
• corrosiveness
• anger
• acridity
• virulency
• vitriol
• acrimony
• sourness
• acridness
• venom
• asperity
• resentment
• harshness
• sternness
• cattiness
• mordancy
• gruffness
• coldness
• spite
• acidness
• vehemence
• jealousy
• iciness
• rudeness
• surliness
• animosity
• incivility
• crossness
• scorn
• vindictiveness
• relentlessness
• malevolence
• impoliteness
• rancor
• jaundice
• spleen
• nastiness
• gall
• ungraciousness
• sour grapes
• pique
• discourteousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• diplomacy
• sweetness
• kindness
• politeness
• courtesy
• cordiality
• sympathy
• tenderness
• geniality
• civility
• warmth
• graciousness
• softness
• compassion
• tactfulness
• smoothness
• suavity
• urbanity
• oiliness
• unctuousness
• suaveness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tartness

Her fondness for their sweet-tartness was a family inheritance, passed down from her own mother, who was Syrian. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Green apples generally contain more malic acid, giving them their signature tartness. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2026

Slices of Granny Smith apples—tossed with sugar and dotted with butter—sit on the buttery crust, lending a mixture of sweetness and tartness to this autumnal treat. — Martha Stewart, 15 Aug. 2026

The perfume opens with the tartness of fig sharpened by a sprinkle of black pepper. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026

This surprise ingredient keeps the dessert balanced, brings out the berry flavor, and cuts the tartness without adding more sugar, so don’t omit it! — Ella Field, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2026

Sweetness and a touch of tartness balance and brighten up this summer drink. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 21 July 2026

With the best overall balance of sweetness and tartness, Milo's is the brand our team will be reaching for at the grocery store. — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 3 July 2026

His shirt reeked of the flowery-formaldehyde tartness of mothballs pickling dress pockets in a closet. — Literary Hub, 3 June 2026