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Added 9 October 2026

acerb

/əˈsɜːb/ adjective

In Latin: acerbus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about acerb at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Sour or bitter in taste.
Harsh or corrosive in tone.
an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose

Origin

From Latin acerbus, from Latin ācer (“sharp”): compare French acerbe. See acrid.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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