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
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
Esther is the original feminist killjoy — acerbic, brilliant, obsessive, confrontational, deeply relatable.
—Jillian Eugenios, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
Critics have affixed to his output any number of adjectives meant to communicate its basic darkness: acerbic, malicious, cruel, contemptuous.
—Brandon Sanchez, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
Resurrecting a Radical Artist: Forty years after his death, the Californian activist Peter Carr gets a revival of his acerbic paintings and drawings.
—New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for acerbic 
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2025
Esther is the original feminist killjoy — acerbic, brilliant, obsessive, confrontational, deeply relatable.
—Jillian Eugenios, NBC News, 29 Dec. 2024
Critics have affixed to his output any number of adjectives meant to communicate its basic darkness: acerbic, malicious, cruel, contemptuous.
—Brandon Sanchez, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
Resurrecting a Radical Artist: Forty years after his death, the Californian activist Peter Carr gets a revival of his acerbic paintings and drawings.
—New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024
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
-
Sun exposure: Full sun to part shade Soil type: Well-draining, slightly acidic Camellias boast evergreen foliage and large, lush blooms in a variety of pink-ish colors ranging from hot pink to dark red.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Adding acidic ingredients like vinegar or tomatoes may also alter the texture and taste.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, LD,
Health,
21 Jan. 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
-
The fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades consumed not only trees, brush and timber from people’s homes but also lead acid car batteries, plastic pipes, synthetic furniture, paint and untold other potential sources of contamination.—
Jack Healy,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Since azaleas are acid soil-loving plants, pine needles, aged pine bark, or leaf mold are ideal mulches.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
19 Dec. 2024
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 6 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share