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acidulous

acidulous

9.6
Slightly sour in taste or tone
  • adjective
  • /əˈsɪdʒələs/
translation icon : ácido

Examples

  • The acidulous smell of solvent issued from the parts washer, mingling with citrus hand soap.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Hamish thought of the acidulous Mrs. Macbean with her thin, lipsticked mouth and hair in pink rollers and sighed.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The lemon had an acidulous flavor that made it the perfect addition to the dish.

  • She winced at the acidulous taste of the vinegar in the salad dressing.

  • Many fruits, like sour cherries, have an acidulous quality that can enhance desserts.

Synonyms

bitter
vsacidulous
81 1.0

Having a sharp, unpleasant taste that is not sweet

is not purely sharp and keeps a gentler sour mix
tangy
vsacidulous
15 3.6

A strong, pleasantly sour taste like lemon

is less strong and may feel more bitter or subdued
acrid
vsacidulous
8 6.7

A strong, unpleasant sharp taste or smell

is milder and more balanced between sour and bitter notes
acidic
vsacidulous
4 3.5

Tasting sharp and sour like lemon or vinegar

is milder, only somewhat sour or bitter in taste
tart
vsacidulous
3 2.2

Having a sharp, sour taste like a lemon

is milder and can lean toward bitter rather than bright sour
astringent
vsacidulous
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A sharp sour or bitter taste that makes your mouth pucker

is about taste only and lacks the puckering mouthfeel
vinegary
vsacidulous
1 5.9

Having a sharp, sour taste or smell

is gentler and not tied to a vinegar likeness
acid-tasting
vsacidulous
3.9

Having a sharp, sour taste like lemon or vinegar

is less direct, giving only a mild sour or bitter note
acid
vsacidulous
1.7

Tasting sour and sharp like lemon

is gentler, offering a faint sour or bitter impression
acidulent
vsacidulous
9.9

A little sour in taste like a lemon

is somewhat more bitter or broadly sour rather than just slight acid
subacid
vsacidulous
8.4

A little sour in taste, not as strong as a sour fruit

is stronger and may include a bitter edge as well
sour-tasting
vsacidulous
1.0

Tasting sharp and like lemon or vinegar

is more general, covering mild sour or bitter sensations
sourish
vsacidulous
3.4

Has a slightly sharp taste like lemon

is slightly more bitter or less purely sour than this
vinegarish
vsacidulous
8.6

A taste or smell that is sharp and sour like vinegar

is a broader mild sourness, not specifically vinegar like
acetose
vsacidulous
  • Archaic
9.9

Having a sharp taste or smell like vinegar

is about mild sour or bitter taste generally rather than vinegar
acerbic
vsacidulous
7.9

A sharp sour taste like lemon or grapefruit

is softer, suggesting only a mild sourness or bitterness
bitterish
vsacidulous
5.1

Being slightly sharp and unpleasant in taste or feeling

leans more toward mild sourness rather than clear bitterness
embittered
vsacidulous
5.3

Having a sharp, unpleasant taste like burnt or overcooked food

describes natural slight sour or bitter flavor rather than caused bitterness

Antonyms

611 1.0

Having a taste like sugar, as in candy

107 1.0

Something like pain and criticism that is not very strong or serious

Compounds

A sharp, slightly bitter comment that can hurt feelings

A sharp, slightly sour taste that feels fresh in the mouth

How Sour

sour
4 1.0
tangy
15 3.6
acidulous
9.6
acidulent
9.9

Surface Forms

acidulous positive
acidulously positive

Morphology

acidulous = acid (transparent) = acid + ulous

Meaning follows directly from 'acid' + the suffix '-ulous' indicating 'somewhat' or 'slightly' sour, so a learner who knows 'acid' can infer the adjective.

Etymology

Acidulous comes from acid meaning 'sour' and the small ending -ulous meaning 'a little'. So acidulous means 'a little sour', which is why we use it for a taste or a tone that is slightly sharp or bitter.