Acerbity

Pronunciation: /əˈsɜːrbəti/

Definitions of acerbity

noun a sharpness or harshness of manner or temper

Example Sentences

A1 I don't like the acerbity of lemons.

A2 Her acerbity towards her coworkers made it difficult to work with her.

B1 The acerbity of his comments left a sour taste in everyone's mouth.

B2 Despite his acerbity, he was respected for his honesty.

C1 The acerbity of the critic's review was harsh but fair.

C2 Her acerbity in her writing style was often misunderstood as arrogance.

Examples of acerbity in a Sentence

formal The professor's acerbity towards students who did not meet his high expectations was evident in his harsh criticism.

informal Her acerbity towards her coworkers made the office atmosphere tense.

slang I can't stand the acerbity of that guy, he's always so bitter and negative.

figurative The acerbity of his words cut through the tension in the room like a sharp knife.

Grammatical Forms of acerbity

• past tense: acerbified
• plural: acerbities
• comparative: more acerb
• superlative: most acerb
• present tense: acerbifies
• future tense: will acerbify
• perfect tense: has acerbified
• continuous tense: is acerbifying
• singular: acerbity
• positive degree: acerb
• infinitive: to acerbify
• gerund: acerbifying
• participle: acerbified

Origin and Evolution of acerbity

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'acerbity' originated from the Latin word 'acerb' meaning sour or bitter.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'acerbity' has come to be used to describe a sharp or harsh tone or manner, in addition to its original meaning of bitterness.