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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tartness
There's no tartness, no bitterness whatsoever.
—
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Dulces Clara’s colorful inventory of Mexican candy features a variety of unique creations, like the popular Hormigas, a hard caramel candy with a watermelon flavor and a dusting of spicy chili powder, and gummies that mix the sweetness of mango with the tartness of tamarind.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Altoids Sours Altoids Sours, launched by Wrigley in the early 2000s, were packaged in distinctive metal tins and delivered an intense tartness before turning sweet.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
In the Wild Eyed Rose, the voluptuous tartness of the grenadine gets to arc across the whole palate, supported by the warm light malt of the Irish whiskey and given a malic kiss at the end by the lime juice.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2026
This recipe stands out from all the rest with brown butter’s toasty, nutty addition to the shortbread base and abundant fresh lemon juice, bringing all its aromatic tartness to every bite.
—Jennifer Anderson, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
The chewy, sticky treats are then rolled in sugar for a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Dulces Clara’s colorful inventory of Mexican candy features a variety of unique creations, like the popular Hormigas, a hard caramel candy with a watermelon flavor and a dusting of spicy chili powder, and gummies that mix the sweetness of mango with the tartness of tamarind.
—Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Altoids Sours Altoids Sours, launched by Wrigley in the early 2000s, were packaged in distinctive metal tins and delivered an intense tartness before turning sweet.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
In the Wild Eyed Rose, the voluptuous tartness of the grenadine gets to arc across the whole palate, supported by the warm light malt of the Irish whiskey and given a malic kiss at the end by the lime juice.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2026
This recipe stands out from all the rest with brown butter’s toasty, nutty addition to the shortbread base and abundant fresh lemon juice, bringing all its aromatic tartness to every bite.
—Jennifer Anderson, Martha Stewart, 17 Feb. 2026
The chewy, sticky treats are then rolled in sugar for a perfect balance of tartness and sweetness.
—Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tartness
Noun
-
Just make sure to choose limes with slightly thinner skin for less bitterness.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Weeks after American Idol audiences booed her for giving honest feedback, Carrie Underwood responded not with bitterness but with blue boxes.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Bruce Lehr, Lunger's attorney, disputed the severity of the charges.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Why High-Speed Rural Corridors Increase California Crash Severity Beyond urban centers, crash severity often increases in rural corridors where higher speeds are more common.—
Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Its brunch menu features a variety of fun bites, sides and mains, such as Avocado Toast Flights; Wake and Gravy Poutine; and the Trenton Porkroll Benny made with two poached eggs, cracked pepper and melted cheddar over potato pancakes.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Most pests make little nibbles on plants, but groundhogs take big bites out of tomatoes, cabbage heads, and other crops.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
More than half a century of Cold War hostilities were thawing.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The goal of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel is to end hostilities and the occupation of southern Lebanon, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in a statement today.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Style it by the edge of your sofa to add bonus space for your morning coffee or evening snacks, or use it by a window in your entryway, bedroom, or kitchen as a pedestal table to show off your favorite houseplants.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Musk in March outlined plans for the massive operation to build cutting-edge semiconductors for artificial intelligence, robotics and space forays.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pickled onions add a bright acidity, and everything gets tossed in barbecue sauce for a sweet and savory salad that’s anything but boring.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Loaded with greens, dates and goat cheese, the vinaigrette dressing with honey and white balsamic (or more correctly, condimento bianco) is a touch sweet and could benefit from some acidity for balance.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tartness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tartness. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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