acerbity

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As her New York Times obituary put it, “She specialized in sourness, or, more politely, acerbity, which she used to her comic advantage in roles as housekeepers, spinsters, wicked stepmothers, nuns and back-talking secretaries.”

From Slate • Aug. 16, 2019

It brings together judgment and gentleness, reason and passion, acerbity and receptivity.

From The Guardian • Sep. 21, 2018

Its emotional harshness and quasi-confessional acerbity is radically untimely—and therefore enduring.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 25, 2017

As Claire — a role played with immortal acerbity by Elaine Stritch, opposite Ms. Harris — Ms. Duncan becomes the cute, love-starved little sister who never quite grew up.

From New York Times • Nov. 20, 2014

Mrs. Lovenant-Smith began correctly; her first trace of acerbity showed only when Louie, having listened to her arraignment with downcast eyes, lifted them for a moment to make a modest and quite immaterial correction.

From The Story of Louie by Onions, Oliver [pseud.]