acrid

IPA/ˈækrɪd/
KK[ˈækrɪd]IPA/ˈækrɪd/

acrid — adjective

  • acridpositive
  • more acridcomparative
  • most acridsuperlative

1. describes a smell or taste that is very strong, sharp, and unpleasant — for exam

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a smell or taste that is very strong, sharp, and unpleasant — for example, the smell of burning rubber, chemicals, or smoke that irritates your throat and makes your eyes water.

Example

The acrid smoke from the burning tyres made everyone cover their noses.

collocation: acrid smoke

A wave of acrid chemical fumes spread through the laboratory corridor.

collocation: acrid fumes

Common collocations
  • acrid smoke
  • acrid smell
  • acrid fumes
  • acrid taste
  • acrid odour
  • acrid stench
Synonyms
  • pungent

    less intense; can be either pleasant or unpleasant, unlike acrid which is always unpleasant

  • bitter

    describes taste only; does not include the burning sensation that acrid implies

  • sharp

    more general; can describe smells, tastes, sounds, or even pain

  • caustic

    implies a chemical, corrosive quality; stronger and more scientific than acrid

Antonyms
  • sweet

    opposite end of the smell/taste spectrum

  • mild

    gentle; not strong or irritating

Grammar Patterns

acrid + noun (smoke / smell / taste / fumes)

Usage Note

Almost always describes smoke, fumes, or chemical odours rather than pleasant smells. When used for taste, it often refers to burnt food or spoiled substances.

Common Mistakes

The flowers had an acrid fragrance.
The flowers had a strong fragrance.
acrid always describes an unpleasant, irritating smell, never a pleasant one.

2. describes words, remarks, or arguments that are full of bitterness and anger — f

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

describes words, remarks, or arguments that are full of bitterness and anger — for example, a critic's harsh review or a hostile exchange between opponents.

Example

The senator's acrid remarks sparked a heated debate on the floor.

collocation: acrid remarks

Years of disappointment had made Fatima's letters increasingly acrid.

Common collocations
  • acrid remark
  • acrid tone
  • acrid comment
  • acrid criticism
  • acrid exchange
  • acrid debate
Synonyms
  • bitter

    more general; can describe feelings, memories, or personality, not only speech

  • caustic

    suggests a deliberately hurtful, corrosive quality in words

  • harsh

    less intense; describes severity without the bitter, angry tone of acrid

  • acrimonious

    more formal; describes a relationship or dispute, not just a single remark

Antonyms
  • kind

    warm and gentle in manner

  • gentle

    soft and mild, opposite of harsh anger

Grammar Patterns

acrid + noun (remark / tone / criticism)

Usage Note

Describes individual remarks, reviews, or arguments rather than a person's general personality. To describe a person's overall character, use 'bitter' or 'embittered' instead.

Common Mistakes

She is an acrid person.
She made acrid comments throughout the meeting.
acrid describes specific remarks or exchanges, not a person's character.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words describe strong, intense sensations, but each emphasises a different quality. Acrid specifically refers to an unpleasant, irritating smell or taste that burns the throat — like smoke or chemicals. Pungent is broader: it can be pleasant (pungent cheese) or unpleasant (pungent fumes) and does not include the burning sensation. Bitter describes a specific taste (like coffee or dark chocolate) and can also refer to emotions, but it does not describe smells. Sharp is the most general word, covering smells, tastes, sounds, and even physical pain. Caustic implies a chemical, corrosive quality and is often used figuratively for speech. For everyday description, use acrid for smoke and fumes, pungent for strong smells in general, and bitter for unpleasant tastes and feelings.

acrid ↗pungentbitter ↗sharp ↗caustic ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Acrid comes from the Latin word 'acer', meaning 'sharp'. The Latin 'acer' gave rise to 'acris' (biting, sharp), which later formed 'acridus' in post-classical Latin. English borrowed it in the 18th century, first for physical sharpness in taste and smell, then figuratively for bitter speech. The same Latin root also gave English the words 'acridity', 'acrimony', and 'acerbic'.