acridity

acridity

English

Etymology

    From acrid + -ity.

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

    acridity (countable and uncountable, plural acridities)

    1. Bitterness or acerbity.
    2. An acrid taste or smell.
    3. (figurative) Bitterness in speech or behavior; causticness.
      • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
        She was not safe from the acridity of his tongue but at least she need not fear physical violence, which was well within the possibilities for others.

    Synonyms