acrid
adjective
Did you know?
Acrid exactly fits the smoke from a fire—a burning building or forest, for example. Dense smog may cast an acrid pall over a city, making throats burn and eyes sting. But, like acid and acerbic, acrid sometimes also describes nonphysical things, such as the remarks of a bitter person.
Synonyms
- acrimonious
- bitter
- embittered
- hard
- rancorous
- resentful
- sore
Example Sentences
Alexandra Peers, CNN, 9 July 2022 Not least, a Republican chief executive could rebrand the party and improve its acrid image in the state. Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2022 Miles away from the fires, the smoke still left an acrid taste in my mouth. New York Times, 11 Aug. 2021 As the evening went on, Dylan’s voice became more acrid. Mick Stevens, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2021 The acrid smoke from massive wildfires that ignited in rural eastern Washington last Labor Day weekend drifted over the Cascades before blanketing the state’s populous western flank. Lindsey Mcginnis, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Aug. 2021 Sparks fly where steel is being burned, and an acrid, choking smoke billows up when a torch sets off insulation or oil or something else flammable. Jacques Kelly, baltimoresun.com, 9 Aug. 2021 There is a moment when the sugars in a black plantain will begin to ferment and release a slightly acrid smell. New York Times, 6 Aug. 2021 On edge after months of lockdown, widespread infection and death, and a highly acrid political climate, people across the political spectrum nurtured a handful of increasingly fantastical explanations for the dismal state of things. J.c. Pan, The New Republic, 1 Oct. 2020 See More Word History
Latin ācr-, ācer "sharp, pungent, biting" + the English formative -id (as in acid entry 2); replacing acrious, from Latin ācer + -ious — more at acr-
1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
acrid
adjective
Medical Definition
acrid
adjective
acrid
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- bitter
- acrimonious
- sore
- cynical
- angry
- rancorous
- embittered
- resentful
- sarcastic
- harsh
- mad
- caustic
- hard
- acid
- irritated
- vicious
- virulent
- scornful
- vehement
- disdainful
- misanthropic
- vitriolic
- contemptuous
- cruel
- disgruntled
- discontented
- savage
- trenchant
- mordant
- disaffected
- malcontent
- rough
- cutting
- knock-down-and-drag-out
- knock-down, drag-out
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sweet
- warm
- sympathetic
- kind
- gentle
- loving
- tender
- unbitter
- forgiving
- caring
- warmhearted
- kindhearted
Synonyms & Similar Words
- satiric
- sarcastic
- acidic
- acid
- satirical
- barbed
- pungent
- caustic
- acerbic
- corrosive
- biting
- sardonic
- acidulous
- mordant
- scathing
- scalding
- tart
- acerb
- snarky
- sharp
- cutting
- cynical
- ironic
- harsh
- sour
- blunt
- spiky
- trenchant
- ironical
- smart-alecky
- incisive
- dry
- smart-aleck
- smart-mouthed
- wry
- sourish
- concise
- poignant
- brisk
- bitter
- severe
- acrimonious
- cross
- vitriolic
- gruff
- flippant
- abrupt
- facetious
- brusque
- curt
- resentful
- stringent
- spikey
- pithy
- crisp
- terse
- keen
- sharp-tongued
- succinct
- tartish
- insincere
- snippy
- backhanded
- tongue-in-cheek
- rough
- brusk
- snippety
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mild
- amusing
- playful
- gentle
- waggish
- bland
- merry
- droll
- sportive
- diplomatic
- smooth
- suave
- polite
- cordial
- urbane
- hospitable
- affable
- good-natured
- genial
- good-humored
- gracious
- sociable
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of acrid are caustic, mordant, and scathing. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.
While in some cases nearly identical to acrid, caustic suggests a biting wit.
The words mordant and acrid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.
In some situations, the words scathing and acrid are roughly equivalent. However, scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.