as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
whispered a steady stream of acerbic comments as the lecturer droned on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acerbic
La Salle has been a working actor for decades, and is mostly known for his 15 year run as the acerbic Dr. Peter Benton on the award-winning medical drama ER.
—
Anne Easton, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
But rather than playing it safe, the foremost roast mistress delivered a masterful 10-minute monologue that was hilariously acerbic, pointed, and playful enough to keep the crowd on her good side.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
In the film, Brody plays a Hungarian World War II refugee architect in the U.S. who finds his talents being tapped by an acerbic real estate tycoon played by Guy Pearce.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, Morgan became a reliable scene stealer in acerbic British comedies, often playing bluntly profane characters with little regard for social niceties.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for acerbic 
Anne Easton, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
But rather than playing it safe, the foremost roast mistress delivered a masterful 10-minute monologue that was hilariously acerbic, pointed, and playful enough to keep the crowd on her good side.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
In the film, Brody plays a Hungarian World War II refugee architect in the U.S. who finds his talents being tapped by an acerbic real estate tycoon played by Guy Pearce.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025
Meanwhile, Morgan became a reliable scene stealer in acerbic British comedies, often playing bluntly profane characters with little regard for social niceties.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for acerbic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerbic
Adjective
-
Awkward teen genius Peter Parker, who's a sarcastic, selfless hero?—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2025
-
His voice takes a rare sarcastic tinge, an angle that’s refreshing and unexpected from a fairly earnest thinker.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The tone, like the title, is satiric and pitch black.—
Andrew Silow-Carroll,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2025
-
Gad originated the role of Elder Cunningham alongside Andrew Rannells' Elder Price in a satiric look at two young missionaries' misguided attempts to spread the gospel in a small Ugandan village.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Plant the carrot seed in deep, loose soil free of rocks with a slightly acidic pH. Instead of putting carrot plants where other members of the carrot family grew or are growing, consider placing it near a sage plant (a good companion for preventing carrot rust flies).—
Lauren Thomann,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Bittersweet chocolate provides a pronounced bitter and even slightly acidic flavor.—
Gretchen McKay,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Manny found Gabriela, who had tripped and gotten tangled in a barbed wire fence, twisting her ankle.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
31 Jan. 2025
-
The sun is shining outside, but the darkness of the multistory complex – a network of torture chambers and cold cells cut off from the outside world by concrete walls and a latticework of braided barbed wire – is overwhelming.—
Scott Peterson,
The Christian Science Monitor,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Even perennials have varying soil needs: some prefer more acid or more alkaline soil, or prefer a wet site or a dry one.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
-
Fluoride also replaces minerals lost from teeth due to acid breakdown, according to the CDC. ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud and Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
29 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to acerbic
Thesaurus Entries Near acerbic
Cite this Entry
“Acerbic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerbic. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share