Skip to main content
acid

acid

4 7.0
Said in a sharp, hurtful way to criticize someone
  • adjective
  • /ˈæsɪd/
: ácido
  • I thought they were acid.
  • acid-tongued

Examples

  • His acid remarks during the debate turned many audiences against him.

  • Osraed Ealadhach said nothing of that embarrassing scene in the concourse, but he was more acid than usual.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • They avoid each other on holidays, phone rarely, and are acid and careless of feelings.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The playboys, gold-diggers, and bluebloods are acid on society.

    Blog text (11)
  • Kissinger was acid-tongued, impatient, malicious, and tirelessly ambitious, driven by self-promotion and a level of intellectual arrogance that was notable even for Harvard.

    Academic text (1990)
  • She made an acid comment about his lack of effort during the project.

  • The article was filled with acid criticism of the government's policies.

Synonyms

bitter
vsacid
351 2.5

Feeling or showing strong anger and hurt

is critical in tone and focuses on harshness rather than emotion
sharp
vsacid
85 4.2

Harsh critical words or actions that hurt others

is similar but can also include broader bitterness not only cutting remarks
vitriolic
vsacid
  • Offensive
10 9.3

Harsh, angry words that strongly hurt someone

is harsh too but less focused on malice or extreme scorn
caustic
vsacid
9 7.4

Being very sharp and unkind in speech or writing

is similar but names a broader harsh or bitter manner rather than severity
corrosive
vsacid
9 7.1

Expressing harsh, biting criticism that hurts people or their confidence

is harsh too but focuses on tone rather than damaging effect
virulent
vsacid
8 8.4

Very harsh and full of hate in speech or writing

is bitter and sharp but not necessarily as hostile or extreme
blistering
vsacid
8 7.0

Very harsh words or writing that attack someone

is harsh as well but may be less intense or sweeping
stinging
vsacid
8 6.3

Harsh or hurtful in a way that makes someone feel upset

is critical and bitter but not always intentionally wounding
acerbic
vsacid
7 8.2

Speech or writing that is harsh and likely to offend people

is harsher in attitude but more general in bitterness than that sharpness
searing
vsacid
  • Offensive
7 7.2

A very harsh remark that tries to hurt someone

is harsh and bitter but not always intended to wound so deeply
pungent
vsacid
3 6.5

Sharp, biting words that can hurt or shock people

is equally biting but emphasizes overall harshness rather than expressiveness
sharp-worded
vsacid
2 7.1

Saying harsh words to criticize someone or something

is harsh too but refers to a general bitter manner rather than wording style
vinegary
vsacid
1 5.9

Having a sharp, sour taste or smell

is similar in bitterness but broader in critical attitude rather than sourness
acrid
vsacid
1 7.5

A harsh, bitter way of speaking that shows anger or criticism

covers similar bitterness but in a more general critical manner
sulfurous
vsacid
  • Formal
1 7.9

Harsh angry speech or writing that strongly criticizes people

is harsh and bitter as well but not always described as burning
venomous-tongued
vsacid
  • Literature
1 9.4

Saying harsh, mean things that hurt people

is sharp and bitter but does not always imply personal spite

Antonyms

408 1.0

Kind and not strong in action, sound, or touch

23 4.2

Saying good things about someone to show you admire them

Compounds

amino acid
  • Specialized
36 3.4

A small chemical that joins with others to make proteins

fatty acid
  • Specialized
24 3.3

A long acid made of carbon and hydrogen atoms found in fats and oils

acid rain
  • Specialized
17 3.3

Rain made acidic by pollution from factories that harms plants and water

sulfuric acid
  • Specialized
12 4.2

A very strong liquid that can burn skin and metal used in factories and labs

folic acid
  • Specialized
8 3.0

A B vitamin that helps the body make new cells and prevents birth defects in early pregnancy

omega-3 fatty acid
  • Specialized
8 3.7

A healthy fat in fish and some plants that helps the heart

hydrochloric acid
  • Specialized
8 4.1

A very strong acid that can burn skin and helps the stomach digest food

battery acid
  • Specialized
7 5.8

A strong, dangerous liquid in car batteries that can burn skin

lactic acid
  • Specialized
7 3.8

A substance found in sour milk, some fruits, and muscles after exercise that can make food taste sour

hydrofluoric acid
  • Specialized
5 7.4

A dangerous chemical that eats away glass and can burn skin

nucleic acid
  • Specialized
5 4.6

A long molecule like DNA or RNA that stores genetic information in cells

4 4.1

An important test that shows if something really works

citric acid
  • Specialized
3 3.4

A natural sour substance in lemons and other fruits that gives flavor and helps keep food fresh

nitric acid
  • Specialized
3 4.6

A very strong, dangerous acid that can burn skin and is used to make fertilizers and explosives

uric acid
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A chemical the body makes when it breaks down some foods and cells, found in blood and urine

oleic acid
  • Specialized
2 5.0

A soft oily acid in olive oil and other fats used to make soaps and creams

phosphoric acid
  • Specialized
2 4.1

A clear chemical with no smell used in fertilizers, food, and household cleaners

hyaluronic acid
  • Specialized
2 4.6

A thick natural liquid in the body that holds water and helps joints, skin, and eyes stay wet

hydroxy acid
  • Specialized
2 5.1

An acid that has one or more OH groups attached, like citric acid in fruit

deoxyribonucleic acid
  • Specialized
2 4.2

A long molecule in cells that carries information about how living things grow and look

ascorbic acid
  • Specialized
2 3.8

A vitamin found in fruits and vegetables that prevents scurvy and helps keep you healthy

omega-6 fatty acid
  • Specialized
2 4.2

A type of fat in foods the body must get from the diet

essential amino acid
  • Specialized
1 3.6

An amino acid the body cannot make and must get from food

linoleic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A liquid fat in plant oils that the body needs and that soap makers use

1 8.9

A chemical from a fungus used in research and to make drugs that change how you see or feel

boric acid
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A weak acid used to kill germs and insects and to make glass, paper, and glue

muriatic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A strong dangerous liquid used to clean mineral deposits from pipes and pools

trans fatty acid
  • Specialized
1 4.0

An unhealthy fat that forms when food makers change oil during processing

tannic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A natural plant substance people use to treat leather and make skin firmer

acid rock
  • Archaic
1 5.7

A 1960s rock style with long guitar solos and unusual sounds often linked to drug use

2-hydroxybenzoic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A white chemical used in aspirin, dyes, perfumes, and acne medicine

A strong drug called LSD that makes people see or hear things that are not real

valproic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A medicine that prevents some seizures and treats mood problems and very bad headaches

acetylsalicylic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A common medicine for pain, fever, and inflammation called aspirin

linolenic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.6

An important fat in some plant oils that the body cannot make

lead-acid battery
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A rechargeable device with lead plates and weak sulphuric acid used in cars and for backup power

carbolic acid
  • Archaic
1 8.0

A toxic chemical used to kill germs and to make other chemicals, also called phenol

domoic acid
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A poison made by some sea algae that can harm the brain and cause memory loss

perchloric acid
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A very strong, reactive acid used in labs and factories to make salts

acetic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A clear sharp liquid that makes vinegar taste sour and is used to make plastics and medicines

glycolic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A clear or white acid from sugar plants used in skin care to remove dead skin

carbonic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A weak acid that forms when carbon dioxide dissolves in water and makes the water slightly acidic

alpha-linolenic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A type of healthy fat that your body needs, found in plant oils like flaxseed and canola

glutamic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.4

A natural part of proteins that gives food a savory taste

1 3.6

A type of fat found mainly in animal foods that has no double bonds in its chain

tartaric acid
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A white sour powder from fruits used to make food taste sour

acrylic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A clear strong-smelling liquid used to make many plastics and paints

bile acid
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A substance made in the liver that helps break down and absorb fats

1 4.4

A type of fat in fish and some vegetable oils that can help your heart

gamma acid
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A crystalline chemical used to make some coloured dyes

carboxylic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.1

An organic chemical that has a COOH group and acts like an acid

1 3.5

A type of oil-like fat with one double bond found in olive oil and avocados

benzoic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A white crystal chemical found in some tree resins and used to preserve food and make other chemicals

malic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A natural substance in fruits that makes them taste sour and adds sourness to foods

docosahexaenoic acid
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A healthy fat in fish like salmon and tuna that helps the brain and eyes develop

aspartic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.3

An amino acid that is in many proteins and some plants

oxalic acid
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A poisonous white acid in some plants that people use to remove rust

prussic acid
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A very poisonous liquid made from hydrogen cyanide and water used to kill pests

hydrocyanic acid
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very poisonous liquid used to kill pests and make other chemicals

eicosapentaenoic acid
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A healthy fat found in oily fish that helps heart and brain health

salicylic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A chemical used to make aspirin and to treat acne and other skin problems

nitrous acid
  • Specialized
1 7.6

A weak unstable acid that exists only in water or salts and helps in chemical reactions

sorbic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A white chemical used in food to stop mold and yeast from growing

formic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A colorless, strong-smelling liquid found in ants and some plants used to make dyes and kill insects

gastric acid
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A strong liquid in the stomach that helps break down food

acid head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who regularly takes LSD

sulfonic acid
  • Specialized
1 7.5

An organic acid that has the group of atoms SO3H

butyric acid
  • Specialized
1 6.8

An acid in fats that has a very strong unpleasant smell often found in spoiled butter

hydroxybutyric acid
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A chemical the body makes from fat that it uses for energy when you do not eat

boracic acid
  • Archaic
1 7.7

A weak white chemical that kills germs and helps make glass and ceramics

cholic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.5

A substance in bile that helps break down fats in the intestine

hydroiodic acid
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A very strong acid made by dissolving hydrogen iodide in water

pantothenic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A B vitamin that helps the body use food for energy

How Harsh

scathing
29 7.7
acid
4 7.0
biting
12 5.4
sharp
85 4.2

Surface Forms

acid positive

Etymology

Acid used for harsh or biting speech comes from the idea of 'sour' or 'sharp' from Latin acidus, so an acid remark is like a sharp taste that can sting or hurt when you hear it.