1
as in bitterness
a harsh or sharp quality
doesn't like the asperity of most experimental music
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2
as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
she responded with such asperity that we knew she was deeply offended by the question
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3
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
as a physically challenged person, he has encountered more than his share of asperities on the road to success
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Recent Examples of asperity
Robin Waterfield’s Aesop’s Fables: A New Translation (Basic Books, $30) renders them in all their feral, fatalistic glory—bursts of Hobbesian asperity with dubious, sometimes conflicting, morals.
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Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 22 Aug. 2024
Advertisement On a re-read, Orwell’s narrative holds up, in large part due to the asperity of the prose and the prescient description of how fascism can creep into any society that takes freedom for granted.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Her asperity has brought upon her the full flaming rage of the Twittersphere.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022
By the time Keane wrote Devoted Ladies, a note of asperity had crept into her fiction.
—Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 22 Nov. 2018
Imagine Don Draper’s grasp of American psychopathology delivered with the pithy asperity of Emily Dickinson.
—Megan O’Grady, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2020
Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 22 Aug. 2024
Advertisement On a re-read, Orwell’s narrative holds up, in large part due to the asperity of the prose and the prescient description of how fascism can creep into any society that takes freedom for granted.
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023
Her asperity has brought upon her the full flaming rage of the Twittersphere.
—Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, 2 Oct. 2022
By the time Keane wrote Devoted Ladies, a note of asperity had crept into her fiction.
—Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 22 Nov. 2018
Imagine Don Draper’s grasp of American psychopathology delivered with the pithy asperity of Emily Dickinson.
—Megan O’Grady, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for asperity
Noun
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Then there are the hardships involved with paying for insurance to begin with.Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Dec. 2024
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On Thursday, Anderson appeared at the hearing by video and said the litigations has created a hardship for her.Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Then use a thin metal spatula to loosen bars around the edges of the pan.Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2024
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Read More: See Photos from the Raging Franklin Fire in Malibu Much of the devastation occurred in Malibu, a community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles known for its stunning bluffs and Zuma Beach, which features in many Hollywood films.Christopher Weber, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Now, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel has offered a huge update on the severity of Waddle's injury.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
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The release noted that front-end height determines the point of impact on a pedestrian’s body, which is a key factor in the severity of injuries.Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
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However, as with all companies operating in emerging markets, KBC has difficulties executing its projects quickly while navigating complex legal and regulatory aspects, Jamison noted.Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 8 Dec. 2024
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The cathedral's restoration and return to service after five years has been a success for Macron, who has had recent political difficulties.Nicole Werbeck, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Located just below Tak, Izakaya is ideal for quick bites of sushi and sips of sake in a casual setting.Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2024
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Betting on one brand gives you only one bite at the apple.Gary Stern, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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TikTok has long denied having any links to the Chinese government, and the federal government has not made public any of the specific intelligence it’s used to justify its hostility against the company.Alison Durkee, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
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The Jordanian government announced the closure of the crossing amid the hostility.Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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An ePPP is a pathogen that has been modified to enhance its transmissibility and virulence.Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
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Still others are investigating viruses that attack Bd and eventually might be used to reduce its virulence.Martin J. Kernan, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2024
Noun
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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
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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
Thesaurus Entries Near asperity
Cite this Entry
“Asperity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asperity. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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