Word Study
acerbic
OXFORD DICTIONARY
acerbic, adj.
1 astringently sour; harsh-tasting.
2 bitter in speech, manner, or temper.
1 astringently sour; harsh-tasting.
2 bitter in speech, manner, or temper.
Derivative
acerbically adv. acerbity n. (pl. -ies).
Etymology
L acerbus sour-tasting
THESAURUS
acerbic
acerb, acerbate, acescent, acetose, acid, acidic, acidulent, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, amaroidal, asperous, astringent, biting, bitter, bitter as gall, burning, caustic, choleric, coarse, corroding, corrosive, crab, crabbed, cutting, dry, embittered, escharotic, green, hard, harsh, incisive, irritating, keen, mordacious, mordant, nose-tickling, penetrating, pickled, piercing, piquant, poignant, pungent, rancorous, rankled, resentful, resenting, rough, scathing, scorching, sec, severe, sharp, sore, sour, sour as vinegar, soured, sourish, splenetic, stabbing, stewing, stinging, tart, tartish, trenchant, unripe, unsweet, unsweetened, vinegarish, vinegary, virulent, vitriolic, witheringROGET THESAURUS
acerbic
Asceticism
N asceticism, puritanism, sabbatarianism, cynicism, austerity, total abstinence, nephalism, mortification, maceration, sackcloth and ashes, flagellation, penance, fasting, martyrdom, ascetic, anchoret, anchorite, martyr, Heautontimorumenos, hermit, puritan, sabbatarian, cynic, sanyasi, yogi, ascetic, austere, puritanical, cynical, over-religious, acerbic.Bitterness
N bitterness, acridness, acridity, acrimony, caustic, alkali, acerbity, gall, wormwood, bitters, astringent bitters, Angostura, aromatic bitters, sourness, pungency, alkaloids, turmeric, bitter, bitterish, acrid, acerb, acerbic, bitter as gall, bitter pill to take, sugar coating on a bitter pill.For further exploring for "acerbic" in Webster Dictionary Online