acerbic
pronunciation
How to pronounce acerbic in British English:
UK [əˈsɜ:bɪk]
How to pronounce acerbic in American English:
US [əˈsɜrbɪk]
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- Adjective:
- sour or bitter in taste
- harsh or corrosive in tone
Word Origin
- acerbic (adj.)
- 1865, originally, and usually, figurative: "sour, harsh, severe" (of speech, manners, etc.), from Latin acerbus "harsh to the taste, sharp, bitter, sour" (see acerbity) + -ic.
Example
- 1. He still contributes coruscating columns to the libero newspaper and acerbic commentaries on telcapri sport tv .
- 2. You shouldn 't speak such acerbic words .
- 3. The dialogue is often funny , acerbic and sometimes even heart-breaking .
- 4. The league has been far and away the most acerbic critic of the non-party , " technocratic " government of mario monti , who took mr berlusconi 's place as prime minister last november .
- 5. Soon after , on encore , his rhymes fell short of his acerbic , acrobatic best .