acerb

acerb
    adj 1: sour or bitter in taste [syn: {acerb}, {acerbic},
           {astringent}]
    2: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing
       otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her
       acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words";
       "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political
       assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a
       sulfurous denunciation"; "a vitriolic critique" [syn:
       {acerb}, {acerbic}, {acid}, {acrid}, {bitter}, {blistering},
       {caustic}, {sulfurous}, {sulphurous}, {virulent},
       {vitriolic}]
    

Acerb \A*cerb"\, a. [L. acerbus, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. acerbe.
   See {Acrid}.]
   Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit; sharp
   and harsh.
   [1913 Webster]