/ əˈsɜːbɪk; NAmE əˈsɜːrb-/ adjective
( formal ) ( of a person or what they say ) critical in a direct and rather cruel way :
The letter was written in her usual acerbic style.
► acerb·ity / əˈsɜːbəti; NAmE əˈsɜːrb-/ noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 19th cent.: from Latin acerbus sour-tasting + -ic .