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🇮🇹Italian Source WordCode: IT

acerbo

Pronunciation / Transliteration: aˈtʃɛr.bo

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Acerbic/əˈsɜːr.bɪk/
adjectiveCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
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🇮🇹 Example Sentence in Italian:

"Il suo umorismo acerbo non piace a tutti."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Sharp and forthright in a manner that is often sarcastic, biting, or critically severe.

    "The critic was known for his acerbic wit and uncompromising reviews."
  2. 2

    Of a taste or smell, sour or astringent.

    "The wine had an acerbic finish that lingered unpleasantly on the palate."
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Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'acerbus', meaning sour or harsh, via French in the mid-17th century. Originally used to describe a sharp or bitter taste, the meaning evolved metaphorically to describe biting, sarcastic, and cutting expressions or temperaments.

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