Acerb

Pronunciation: /ˈæsərb/

Definitions of acerb

adjective sour or bitter in taste; harsh or severe in manner or tone

Example Sentences

A1 The acerb taste of the lemon made her pucker her lips.

A2 The acerb criticism from her boss left her feeling demotivated.

B1 The acerb tone of the email was off-putting to the recipients.

B2 The acerb wit of the comedian had the audience in stitches.

C1 Her acerb observations about society were both insightful and cutting.

C2 The acerb commentary in the article sparked a heated debate among readers.

Examples of acerb in a Sentence

formal The acerb criticism from the professor left the students feeling dejected.

informal Her acerb wit always keeps us on our toes during meetings.

slang I can't stand his acerb attitude, he's always so negative.

figurative The acerb taste of the lemonade made her wince.

Grammatical Forms of acerb

• past tense: acerbated
• plural: acerbs
• comparative: more acerb
• superlative: most acerb
• present tense: acerb
• future tense: will acerb
• perfect tense: has acerbed
• continuous tense: is acerbing
• singular: acerb
• positive degree: acerb
• infinitive: to acerb
• gerund: acerbating
• participle: acerbated

Origin and Evolution of acerb

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'acerb' originated from Latin 'acerb(us)', meaning sharp or bitter.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'acerb' has retained its meaning of sharp or bitter, but it is now less commonly used compared to synonyms like 'acrid' or 'pungent'.