acrid

adjective

ˈa-krəd How to pronounce acrid (audio)
Definition of acridnext
1
as in sore
having or showing deep-seated resentment there have been acrid relations between the two families ever since they fought over that strip of land

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings Phillipa's acrid comments about the new employee's clothes were met by laughter from everyone at the lunch table

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acrid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of acrid are caustic, mordant, and scathing. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

When would caustic be a good substitute for acrid?

While in some cases nearly identical to acrid, caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

When can mordant be used instead of acrid?

The words mordant and acrid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

In what contexts can scathing take the place of acrid?

In some situations, the words scathing and acrid are roughly equivalent. However, scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acrid They are more readily composed, more readily understood, and tend to get a lower semblance of acrid debate. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Mar. 2026 As the smoke and acrid odor from Netflix’s over-the-top pregame production cleared, two figures emerged from the haze to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the 2026 baseball season. — Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026 Smoke from a Boyle Heights warehouse fire shrouds Dodger Stadium in acrid haze before the Dodgers’ 12-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026 Verified video and photos from the region showed how sprawling strikes across parts of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley shot towering columns of acrid smoke into the sky above the capital and sparked a desperate evacuation. — Matt Bradley, NBC news, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acrid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acrid
  1. sore
  2. satiric
  3. bitter
  4. sarcastic
  5. angry
  6. acidic
  7. cynical
  8. acid
Adjective
  • Also Wednesday, the team scratched shortstop Mookie Betts from the starting lineup because of a sore right wrist.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Guests who get after it on Vail’s ski slopes and hiking and biking trails can book a CBD massage or pop into the self-care lounge and soothe sore muscles with Hyperice massage guns and Normatec leg compression sleeves.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
Definition of sore
Adjective
  • The script for the video was written by Casale and his longtime friend Max Papeschi, an Italian satirical artist.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
  • Staff members of the satirical magazine Leman are on trial on charges of inciting hatred over a cartoon published last year that features the Prophet Mohammed and Moses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Definition of satiric
Adjective
  • Losing to a rival is bad enough, but how the defeat unfolded is sure to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of one of the greatest strikers ever.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 July 2026
  • The empty hotels have now become a bitter symbol of the collapse of an industry once seen as key to Cuba’s economic future.
    — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of bitter
Adjective
  • This is taken as evidence of his status, not a sarcastic criticism.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
  • On Monday night, Contreras was ejected in the second inning after a check-swing strikeout prompted him to give a sarcastic ABS challenge gesture at the umpire, earning an instant boot.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Adjective
  • The Commission ultimately left it at 400 feet, prompting an intense reaction from the angry crowd.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • Some of the women who were angry contacted the SFMOMA not simply to share feedback, but to try to ensure Bahr could never work with the institution again.
    — Lisa Curtis, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of angry
Adjective
  • Avocado, tomatillos, a serrano pepper, and lime are mixed together in just five minutes to make a bright and acidic dip that's served best with your favorite tortilla chips.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • It’s absorbed without needing food or a highly acidic environment.
    — Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 30 June 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • His willingness to move to Rio de Janeiro upon taking the job endeared him to the cynical public, as did his decision to call up Neymar to his squad to quieten the noise the forward’s potential exclusion would have brought with it.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Against the run of play, the Atlas Lions won a free kick near the corner of the box after Luc De Fougerolles was booked for a cynical challenge.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • Scotto highlighted that Kinetik has purpose-built its system for sour gas handling, giving it an edge over new competitors that may face permitting delays of at least three years to build acid gas injection wells.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 21 June 2026
  • On the other hand, a hydrangea species that can sometimes disappoint Chicago-area gardeners is the bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), known for having big blue blooms when grown in acid soil and popular in the eastern United States.
    — Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
Definition of acid

Browse Nearby Words

acres
acrid
acridity
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Cite this Entry

“Acrid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acrid. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on acrid

Nglish: Translation of acrid for Spanish Speakers

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