Skip to main content
acid

acid

1 7.0
Said in a sharp, hurtful way to criticize someone
  • adjective
  • /ˈæsɪd/
translation icon : 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
360 2.5

Feeling or showing strong anger and hurt

is critical in tone and focuses on harshness rather than emotion
sharp
vsacid
46 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
acerbic
vsacid
8 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
corrosive
vsacid
7 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
7 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
5 7.0

Very harsh words or writing that attack someone

is harsh as well but may be less intense or sweeping
pungent
vsacid
2 6.5

Sharp, biting words that can hurt or shock people

is equally biting but emphasizes overall harshness rather than expressiveness
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
searing
vsacid
  • Offensive
1 7.2

A very harsh remark that tries to hurt someone

is harsh and bitter but not always intended to wound so deeply
stinging
vsacid
6.3

Harsh or hurtful in a way that makes someone feel upset

is critical and bitter but not always intentionally wounding
sharp-worded
vsacid
7.1

Saying harsh words to criticize someone or something

is harsh too but refers to a general bitter manner rather than wording style
sulfurous
vsacid
  • Formal
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
9.4

Saying harsh, mean things that hurt people

is sharp and bitter but does not always imply personal spite

Antonyms

235 1.0

Kind and not strong in action, sound, or touch

18 4.2

Saying good things about someone to show you admire them

Compounds

amino acid
  • Specialized
32 3.4

A small chemical that joins with others to make proteins

fatty acid
  • Specialized
30 3.3

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

acid rain
  • Specialized
16 3.3

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

sulfuric acid
  • Specialized
11 4.2

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

folic acid
  • Specialized
7 3.0

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

hydrochloric acid
  • Specialized
6 4.1

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

battery acid
  • Specialized
4 5.8

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

lactic acid
  • Specialized
4 3.8

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

hydrofluoric acid
  • Specialized
4 7.4

A dangerous chemical that eats away glass and can burn skin

3 4.1

An important test that shows if something really works

nucleic acid
  • Specialized
3 4.6

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

omega-3 fatty acid
  • Specialized
3 3.7

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

oleic acid
  • Specialized
2 5.0

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

nitric acid
  • Specialized
2 4.6

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

carbonic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.4

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

citric acid
  • Specialized
1 3.4

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

hyaluronic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.6

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

hydroxy acid
  • Specialized
1 5.1

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

trans fatty acid
  • Specialized
1 4.0

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

uric acid
  • Specialized
1 4.1

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

boric acid
  • Specialized
1 4.4

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

deoxyribonucleic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.2

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

acid rock
  • Archaic
1 5.7

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

essential amino acid
  • Specialized
1 3.6

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

phosphoric acid
  • Specialized
1 4.1

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

domoic acid
  • Specialized
1 9.5

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

acetylsalicylic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.7

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

ascorbic acid
  • Specialized
1 3.8

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

lead-acid battery
  • Specialized
1 3.9

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

muriatic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.5

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

glycolic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.1

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

salicylic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.8

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

tannic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.7

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

valproic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.8

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

1 9.9

A slang name for LSD, a drug that makes people see or hear things that are not real

bile acid
  • Specialized
1 5.0

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

boracic acid
  • Archaic
1 7.7

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

butyric acid
  • Specialized
1 6.8

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

carbolic acid
  • Archaic
1 8.0

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

carboxylic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.1

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

cholic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.5

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

acid head
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who regularly takes LSD

alpha-linolenic acid
  • Specialized
1 6.7

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

linoleic acid
  • Specialized
1 5.3

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

linolenic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.6

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

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

malic acid
  • Specialized
1 4.8

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

gastric acid
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A strong liquid in the stomach that helps break down food

perchloric acid
  • Specialized
1 9.5

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

1 4.4

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

tartaric acid
  • Specialized
1 4.0

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

benzoic acid
  • Specialized
4.9

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

7.2

A small chemical the body makes when it breaks down fat, found in blood and urine during fasting or diabetes

butanoic acid
  • Specialized
7.8

A substance in butter and some fats that has a strong unpleasant smell

bromic acid
  • Specialized
9.1

An unstable acid used in chemistry to make other substances react by taking electrons

caproic acid
  • Specialized
8.4

An acid in animal fats with a strong goat-like smell used in flavors and industry

caprylic acid
  • Specialized
9.4

A fatty acid in foods like butter or coconut oil used to make perfumes and food additives

capric acid
  • Specialized
8.1

A chemical found in animal fats and milk that gives a goat-like smell

carbamic acid
  • Specialized
9.9

An acid that cannot be isolated and is known only as parts of other chemicals like ammonium carbamate and urethane

5.7

A colorless, odorless gas called carbon dioxide that plants use to make food

cerotic acid
  • Specialized
9.6

A white solid fatty acid found in natural waxes like beeswax

chloric acid
  • Specialized
8.4

A strong unstable acid with a sharp smell used in labs

chlorous acid
  • Specialized
9.3

An unstable acid that exists only in water and strongly reacts with other substances

chlorohydric acid
  • Specialized
5.3

A strong acid that can burn skin and metal

citric acid cycle
  • Specialized
7.3

A series of chemical reactions in the mitochondria of cells that make energy

chromic acid
  • Specialized
9.1

A strong unstable acid that contains chromium and reacts strongly with other chemicals

chromic-sulfuric acid
  • Specialized
8.4

A very strong mixture of two acids that cleans laboratory glassware

5.5

A substance in muscles that stores and gives quick energy for short bursts of activity

cyanic acid
  • Specialized
9.7

A colorless, very poisonous liquid acid that evaporates easily and breaks down into ammonia and carbon dioxide in water

cyanuric acid
  • Specialized
8.8

A white solid that protects pool chlorine from sunlight

decanedioic acid
  • Specialized
9.1

A chemical with ten carbon atoms and two acid groups used to make strong plastics and resins

decanoic acid
  • Specialized
7.7

A fatty acid found in animal fats and oils with a strong goat-like smell

dibasic acid
  • Specialized
7.2

A chemical that can give two hydrogen atoms to a base and make two salts

How Harsh

scathing
19 7.7
acid
1 7.0
biting
5.4
sharp
46 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.