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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acrid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of acrid are caustic, mordant, and scathing. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

When would caustic be a good substitute for acrid?

While in some cases nearly identical to acrid, caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

When can mordant be used instead of acrid?

The words mordant and acrid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

In what contexts can scathing take the place of acrid?

In some situations, the words scathing and acrid are roughly equivalent. However, scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acrid And even those Angelenos whose homes are still standing are feeling a newfound sense of fragility, realizing with every step into the acrid air how little about their lives is assured. Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2025 Oxidation is one of the main things that makes old coffee taste stale and acrid. Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024 The arguments made by antiabortion states to sugarcoat their manifestly misogynistic policies have always borne the acrid odor of cynicism and hypocrisy. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024 As anyone who ever tried concealing the clingy smell of cigarettes from their parents may remember, the acrid odor of smoke is hard to hide and harder to remove. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for acrid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acrid
Adjective
  • Middleton was said to be extremely sore the past few days, but considering what could have happened when Bo Horvat pushed him from behind so far from the boards, that’s relatively good news.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Power forward Aaron Gordon was also questionable with an illness and a sore right calf.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The bitter dispute recently tipped into its fourth consecutive month and has escalated.
    Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Which is really too bad because bitter is a lot more fun to watch on TV.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s the premise of Douglas Is Cancelled, a cruelly funny 2024 BBC sitcom that seems very much in sync with satiric comedies such as The Office and W1A and Yes Minister.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Misery, a horror movie with a satiric streak, launched Bates’s film stardom.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Harry Belafonte was angry at Martin Luther King’s funeral.
    Made by History, Time, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Related article People are angry at Gen Z taking photos of airport trays.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Always down to gossip and party, Redmond exudes Gemini's energy through his zesty and sarcastic attitude.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • This is not just a sarcastic take but a practical one.
    Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Val did something special with a typical 1980s cynical rebel/wisecracker role, giving his character a layer of big brother warmth.
    KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
  • On the movie front, Viola Davis is an endangered POTUS in G20, Tom Hardy plays a cynical detective in Havoc, and documentary subjects include the Stranger Things stage production, the Milwaukee Brewers’ 1982 season and the Disney cult classic A Goofy Movie.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Make sure the soil is well-drained and acidic with pH levels ranging between 4.5-6.0. Consider laying down mulch to help the plants retain more moisture.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The warmer temperatures on the ocean surface are more acidic, which favors algae.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The startup is competing with AI firms such as OpenAI, which Musk co-founded before an acrimonious split with that company.
    Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Smith directly references his acrimonious relationship with the Oscars after slapping then-host Chris Rock in 2022.
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 28 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Acrid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acrid. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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