acerbic

sharp or bitter in tone

Root

Other words with the acer / acu / acr root

  • acrid: sharp, bitter, or irritating
  • acrimony: bitterness or sharp hostility
  • acuity: sharpness of perception or sense
  • acumen: sharp practical judgment
  • acute: sharp, intense, or keen
  • exacerbate: to make worse

Acer carries sharpness. Acerbic speech has an edge: sharp enough to cut, bitter enough to sting.

Her acerbic comment was funny for one second, then the room went cold.

Acerbic is sharpness moved into tone. It is not just criticism; it is criticism with acid on it.

If a sentence makes the room flinch, not because it is loud but because it is cutting, acerbic is the word you want.

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