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

The Results Great Value’s Cream Cheese won consistently high marks across all of our editors’ tastings for its balance of sweetness, tartness, and saltiness. — Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026

Don’t leave without trying the cold brew tamarindo, where the fruit’s tartness plays against the bitterness of the coffee. — Nikkita Nair, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2026

There are no bad-for-you additions in sight, only natural flavors, vegetable juice for color, and citric acid for a pleasant tartness. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026

The pork belly is perfectly cooked, the sauce has a nice tartness and spice and the pickles cut through it all. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 28 Aug. 2026

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