plural acerbities
: the quality of being acerbic

Examples of acerbity in a Sentence

the customer made his displeasure known with more acerbity than was necessary
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The third element of the trio is Mary Flynn, played by the terrific Lindsey Mendez, a 2018 Tony winner for Carousel, with a natural warmth that offsets the character’s growing acerbity. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2022 The Brodie books demonstrate her great facility with genre, pairing pulse-quickening suspense with Atkinson’s distinctive blend of puckishness and acerbity. Sarah Chihaya, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French acerbité, borrowed from Latin acerbitāt-, acerbitās, from acerbus "sour, bitter" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at acerb

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of acerbity was in 1572

Dictionary Entries Near acerbity

Cite this Entry

“Acerbity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acerbity. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

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