Definition of acerbic

acrimonious Definition: (adjective) biting, harsh, caustic. Petersons.com

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< acerbate

acerbity >

a·cer·bic    (-sûrbk) KEY   also a·cerb   (-sûrb) KEY  

ADJECTIVE:

1. Sour or bitter tasting; acid. See Synonyms at bitter.
2. Sharp or biting, as in character or expression: "At times, the playwright allows an acerbic tone to pierce through otherwise arid or flowery prose" (Alvin Klein).

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ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin acerbus; see ak- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
a·cerbi·cal·ly (Adverb)

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