acerb

A1C3E1R1B3
UK/əˈsɜːb/US/əˈsɜɹb/

adjective

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

Similar
acerbicastringentsouracidacridbitterblisteringcaustic
OriginLatin acerbus →
Scrabble 9
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Meanings

adjectiveacerb (comparative acerber or more acerb, superlative acerbest or most acerb)

comparative acerber · comparative more acerb · superlative acerbest · superlative most acerb

  1. archaicSour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit.

    If you put Spirit of Sulphur to the Peruvian Bark, it then becomes very acerb. If you mix Mercury with Spirit of Nitre or Oil of Vitriol whilst it boils, it then is very acerb.

    1732, Edward Strother, Prælectiones Pharmaco-mathicæ & medico-practicæ

    Synonyms: acerbic

  2. archaicfigurativelySharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

    As to the somewhat acerb remarks of the member for Jacques Cartier, I may pass them over […]

    1909, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, Debates: Official Report, volume 1, page 1970

    Synonyms: acerbic

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveSour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, such as unripe fruit.

Similar
acerbic

adjectiveSharp and harsh in expressing oneself.

Similar
acerbic

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivesour or bitter in taste

Similar
acerbicastringentsour

adjectiveharsh or corrosive in tone

Similar
acerbicacidacridbitterblisteringcausticsulfuroussulphurousvirulentvitriolicunpleasant
Also see
acerbicacidacridacrimoniousastringentbitterblisteringcausticsoursulfurousunpleasantvirulentvitriolic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinācer“sharp”
  2. Latinacerbus
  3. Englishacerb

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

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish kitkerä, pureva
  • kitkeräbitter to the taste
  • purevasharp and harsh in expression
  • kitkeräsharp and harsh in expression
French acerbe
  • acerbebitter to the taste
Italian acerbo
  • acerbobitter to the taste
Latin acerbus
  • acerbusbitter to the taste
Persian گس
  • گس (gas)bitter to the taste
Polish cierpki, kwaśny
  • cierpkibitter to the taste
  • kwaśnybitter to the taste
  • gorzkibitter to the taste
  • cierpkisharp and harsh in expression
  • uszczypliwysharp and harsh in expression
  • zgryźliwysharp and harsh in expression
Portuguese acerbo
  • acerbobitter to the taste
Russian терпкий, едкий
  • терпкий (terpkij)bitter to the taste
  • едкий (jedkij)sharp and harsh in expression
  • резкий (rezkij)sharp and harsh in expression
  • жёсткий (žóstkij)sharp and harsh in expression
Spanish acerbo
  • acerbobitter to the taste

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with acerb

superbherbverbcurbdisturbSerbrefurbreverbblurbkerbperturbburbgerbegerbbirbdeturb
All rhymes →

Anagrams

bracecabercabreBerca
Cite this entry
APA

acerb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acerb

MLA

“acerb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acerb. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “acerb,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/acerb.

Source: acerb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.