acerb

Meaning

1. (archaic) Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit.
2. (archaic, figuratively) Sharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

Synonyms

acerbic

bitter

caustic

acid

blistering

acrid

sulfurous

vitriolic

virulent

astringent

tart

sulphurous

mordacious

biting

cutting

keen

mordant

pointed

sharp

shrill

sour

strident

trenchant

ingenious

vinegary

lancinating

bristly

acute

morose

nipping

peaked

peaky

perceptive

perspicacious

piercing

acidic

pungent

quick-witted

ready

salty

severe

acuate

fulgurating

slick

smart

sore

lancinate

sourish

sourness

spiky

Translations

acerbe

aigre

acerbo

acre

ácido

acerbo

acerbus

âpre

acerbo

caustico

astringent

heftig

scharf

virulent

erbittert

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈsɜːb/

Etymology

Cognate with French: acerbe

In summary

From Latin acerbus, from Latin ācer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid.