acerbic

/əˈsɜːbɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈsɜːrbɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈsər-bik a-/ (ame, mw)

acerbic — 形容詞

  • acerbicpositive
  • more acerbiccomparative
  • most acerbicsuperlative

1. expressing criticism or judgement in words that are clever and biting, often mak

1.形容詞C1
釋義

尖酸刻薄的

言詞犀利刻薄又帶機鋒的

expressing criticism or judgement in words that are clever and biting, often making the listener feel hurt while also admiring how sharply it was said.

例句

Yael's acerbic review of the new restaurant made the chef furious for days.

Yael 對那家新餐廳寫了篇尖酸刻薄的評論，讓主廚氣了好幾天。

acerbic + noun (review, comment, remark) — describing a piece of writing or speech

The professor was famous for her acerbic wit and feared by every new student.

那位教授以尖酸刻薄的機智聞名，每個新生都怕她。

acerbic wit — a very common collocation about a person's style of humour

同義詞
  • caustic

    very close synonym; slightly stronger and more clearly aggressive

  • biting

    more everyday; emphasises the pain caused more than the cleverness

  • sardonic

    darker and more cynical; suggests scornful amusement rather than direct attack

  • tart

    milder; suggests a quick sharp reply rather than sustained criticism

反義詞
  • gentle

    soft and kind in manner of speaking

  • warm

    friendly and encouraging in tone

用法筆記

Most often used of speech, writing, or a person's wit or tone — not of physical things. Common collocates: wit, tone, comment, remark, review, humour. The cleverness is part of the meaning; pure rudeness without wit is better described as 'cutting' or 'harsh'.

常見錯誤

❌The soup tasted acerbic.
✅The soup tasted sour.
💡in modern English 'acerbic' almost always describes words or a manner of speaking, not literal taste.
❌He gave me an acerbic look.
✅He gave me a sharp look.
💡'acerbic' describes what is said or written, not facial expressions.