Acerbic

Pronunciation: /əˈsɜːrbɪk/

Definitions of acerbic

adjective sour or bitter in taste, harsh or cutting in tone or manner

Example Sentences

A1 She made an acerbic comment about the weather, saying it was too hot.

A2 The acerbic tone of his voice made it clear that he was not happy with the situation.

B1 The critic's acerbic review of the movie highlighted its flaws and shortcomings.

B2 Her acerbic wit was both cutting and entertaining, leaving everyone in stitches.

C1 The professor's acerbic remarks challenged the students to think critically and analytically.

C2 The author's acerbic writing style drew both praise and criticism for its sharpness and honesty.

Examples of acerbic in a Sentence

formal The critic's acerbic review of the play left the actors feeling disheartened.

informal I love listening to my acerbic aunt roast people at family gatherings.

slang She's known for her acerbic sense of humor that always keeps us laughing.

figurative His acerbic wit was like a sharp knife, cutting through the pretentiousness of the room.

Grammatical Forms of acerbic

• past tense: acerbicked
• plural: acerbics
• comparative: more acerbic
• superlative: most acerbic
• present tense: acerbic
• future tense: will be acerbic
• perfect tense: has been acerbic
• continuous tense: is being acerbic
• singular: acerbic
• positive degree: acerbic
• infinitive: to be acerbic
• gerund: acerbicking
• participle: acerbic

Origin and Evolution of acerbic

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'acerbic' originated from the Latin word 'acerbicus', which means sour or harsh.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe a sour or harsh taste, 'acerbic' has evolved to also describe a sharp or biting wit or personality.