a
cer
bi
ty
Plural
acerbities
1
the quality of being harsh, severe, or bitter in tone or manner
- Her acerbity during the meeting made everyone tread carefully around her.
- He responded with acerbity when questioned about his late submission.
- The columnist's acerbity cut through polite pretense and laid bare the scandal.
- Even old friends recoiled at the sudden acerbity in his otherwise genial tone.
- Management noted the acerbity of his emails and asked him to soften his language.
2
a sharp, sour taste on the palate
- The homemade cider carried a crisp acerbity that woke up my taste buds.
- Unripe cherries add an unexpected acerbity to any jam recipe.
- A drizzle of lime juice imparted bright acerbity to the seafood ceviche.
- The salad's dressing balanced sweetness with lively acerbity.
- Grapefruit's natural acerbity makes it a bold choice for morning cocktails.
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