Acerbic   (pronounced uh-suhr-bik) adjective


Definition

sharp, severe, or bitter (in one's temper, mood, manner, or expression).

Main Example

  • So how did the two legendary reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, react when told that after a four-year research project, a Univ. of Illinois professor and his students had uncovered the identity of Deep Throat, that secret tipster during their Watergate investigation? Reportedly, Woodward simply declined to comment, but Bernstein was outraged and his response was acerbic. "They have no business investigating a reporter's confidential sources," he said.

    Workplace Examples

  • Well, if you've never seen Arthur chew people out, come to tomorrow's review meeting. The sales numbers look horrible, so he is bound to confront some of the presenters. You'll get to witness Arthur's acerbic side.

  • You are right! I was a bit too harsh in my criticism of Fiona. The next time you find my tone so . . . acerbic, just tap me on the shoulder or something.

    Other Examples

  • an acerbic critic; an acerbic employee who is not the most popular choice for inclusion in work groups and on committees

  • the intensely emotional and acerbic debate in Congress before the impeachment of President Clinton

  • the scathing and acerbically worded dissents that accompany some of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings

  • in a Vanity Fair interview, Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" admitting that, because he is so demanding, he sometimes demeans people if a story is not going well and becomes "extremely acerbic, even in public"

    © 2003 V.J. Singal

    This Month's Other Words

    Illusory
    Patrimony
    Vexed
    Evince
    Quiescent
    Inure
    Disingenuous

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