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Acerb

/əˈsɜːb/

Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Acerb"

adjective

1
Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit.
2
Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

🔄 Synonyms of "Acerb"

15 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
sharpnoun	Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
acerbic	(figurative) Sharp, harsh, biting.
causticnoun	Capable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue.
virulent	(medicine) Of a disease or disease-causing agent: malignant, able to cause damage to the host.
acrid	Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste.
vitriolic	(figuratively) Bitterly scathing, caustic.
venomous	Of an animal (specifically a snake) or parts of its body: producing venom (“a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use”) which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting venom.
unpleasant	Not pleasant.
bitternoun	Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).
sournoun	Tasting of acidity.
sulfurous	(American spelling) Containing sulfur.
blisteringnoun	Very hot.
astringentnoun	A substance which draws tissue together, thus restricting the flow of blood.
sulphurous	(chiefly British spelling) Alternative spelling of sulfurous. [(American spelling) Containing sulfur.]
acidnoun	(chemistry) Any compound which yields H+ ions (protons) when dissolved in water; an Arrhenius acid.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Acerb"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
bitter	Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).
acerbic	(figurative) Sharp, harsh, biting.
acrid	Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not to the taste.
acidnoun	(chemistry) Any compound which yields H+ ions (protons) when dissolved in water; an Arrhenius acid.
sour	Tasting of acidity.
unpleasant	Not pleasant.
causticnoun	Capable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue.
sharp	Terminating in a point or edge, especially one that can cut or pierce easily; not dull, obtuse, or rounded.
astringent	(medicine) Having the effect of drawing tissue together; styptic.
blistering	Very hot.
venomous	Of an animal (specifically a snake) or parts of its body: producing venom (“a toxin intended for defensive or offensive use”) which is usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging; hence, of a bite or sting: injecting venom.
virulent	(medicine) Of a disease or disease-causing agent: malignant, able to cause damage to the host.
vitriolicnoun	(figuratively) Bitterly scathing, caustic.
sulfurous	(American spelling) Containing sulfur.
sulphurous	(chiefly British spelling) Alternative spelling of sulfurous. [(American spelling) Containing sulfur.]
tartnoun	A type of small open pie, or piece of pastry, now typically containing jelly (US) / jam (UK) or conserve, or sometimes other fillings (chocolate, custard, egg, butter, historically even meat or other savory fillings).
harsh	Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses.
acerbitous	(archaic) acerbic; bitter; harsh
acrimonious	(figuratively) Angry, acid, and sharp in delivering argumentative replies: bitter, mean-spirited, sharp in language or tone.
acetous	Having a sour taste; sour; acid.