acerbic

adjective

ə-ˈsər-bik How to pronounce acerbic (audio)
Definition of acerbicnext
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings whispered a steady stream of acerbic comments as the lecturer droned on

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acerbic So Knox introduces Juliette to the acerbic ex-miner Mark Chambers, who also tells Madame Mayor to forget about Lukas. — Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026 At the level of style, there was nothing obviously flamboyant about Allen’s music, nor her presence on stage, the quiet, acerbic composure of her delivery. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 An unswervingly loyal oncologist, Wilson was the acerbic doctor's only true friend. — Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 July 2026 The comedian, 38, best known for his role as the acerbic gay best friend Elliott Goss in HBO’s Search Party, chose our meeting place to take advantage of the balmy late-May weather and to say goodbye to the neighborhood. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for acerbic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acerbic
  1. sarcastic
  2. satiric
  3. acidic
  4. barbed
  5. acid
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Rogen and Nanjiani manage to steal multiple scenes as the voices of the ladies’ cats Dio and GG, two sarcastic felines who are fed up with their burnout owners.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This was Perez Hilton, after all, a man who had earned fame in the mid-two-thousands for his salacious, sarcastic, and often sadistic coverage of celebrity suffering.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • Binface, who was first to declare and already a running joke in British elections, drew the most attention because of his satirical spin on politics and persona as a space alien from the planet Sigma IX.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Outlandish costumes Binface is just one in a long line of satirical candidates dating back more than six decades, who have become a unique staple of British elections.
    — Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • Common culprits are hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks.
    — Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Clean granite with mild dish soap, warm water, and a soft cloth; avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon.
    — Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • Light tubes, chains, scaffolds, chairs and a barbed wire table all made an appearance.
    — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Instead of trying to locate bears in the wild, the survey relies on hair samples collected in barbed wire traps, which can be used to identify individual bears based on their DNA.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of barbed
Adjective
  • There was an acid trip of a halftime show starring Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, and Shakira.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 July 2026
  • Lithium-ion, lead-acid, sodium-ion and other technologies all have a role to play in the electrification landscape.
    — Darren Tan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of acid

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Cite this Entry

“Acerbic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acerbic. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of acerbic for Spanish Speakers

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