Acerbic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈsɜː(ɹ)bɪk/

Definitions

1. Having a sharp, biting quality that can apply to both taste and temperament
2. Exhibiting a harsh and critical nature, especially in communication or flavor perception
3. Having a distinctly bitter or sour flavor or expression ; expressing criticism in a sharp, cutting way

Etymology: The Latin "acerbus" meant "sour" or "bitter," and it carried a sense of harshness that went beyond taste. Its ancestry runs back to a root meaning "sharp" or "pointed," the same idea that lies behind "acer" (keen, sharp), and the Latin adjective was a close cousin of "acer," so the notion of sharpness was present from the start. English borrowed the word in the 17th century, and it has kept that double edge: a sour taste and a sharp tongue. Its meaning has moved mostly from flavor to temperament. Where the Latin could describe fruit or wine, the English adjective now describes a manner of speech or wit that stings. Someone with an acerbic remark is not merely unpleasant but precise in the way a sour fruit is precise on the palate.

Synonyms: sharp, bitter, sardonic

Antonyms: sweet, gentle, mild