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acrid

acrid

9 6.7
A strong, unpleasant sharp taste or smell
  • adjective
  • /ˈækrɪd/
: acre
  • As we approached the factory, an acrid scent filled our lungs, making us cough.
  • acrid smell
  • acrid odor

I think my pant leg is on fire, he said after noticing the acrid smell.

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Examples

  • The air was filled with acrid odors that her recovering senses could not identify.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Gray particles still floated in the air, and there was a foul, acrid smell.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • But it was earth, filthy acrid earth... and it was killing her...

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Smoke, bitter and acrid, washed over him in a hot wave.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • I could smell smoke: acrid, with a faint chemical tinge.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The air was thick with the hot, acrid stench of the smoking fires.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The fire bell was clanging, and Emma caught the acrid scent of smoke.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Discarded tires can also catch fire, sending acrid smoke and other pollutants into the air.

    Academic text (2001)
  • And wafting through the window on the silky night breeze was the acrid scent of gasoline.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The air was thick with an acrid smell after the fire was put out.

Synonyms

stinking
vsacrid
  • Informal
108 5.3

Very bad or unpleasant

is specifically a sharp chemical taste or smell, not general extreme badness
smelly
vsacrid
93 1.0

Giving off a strong, unpleasant stink

is sharper and more biting in taste or smell rather than just odorous
stinky
vsacrid
57 1.0

Having a very bad smell

is sharper and more chemically biting rather than only offensively odorous
bitter
vsacrid
55 1.0

Having a sharp, unpleasant taste that is not sweet

is intensely harsh and irritating rather than merely strong tasting
foul
vsacrid
54 3.0

Having a very bad smell or taste

is sharper and more chemically biting rather than generally offensive
yucky
vsacrid
  • Informal
21 6.8

Not pleasant to taste or smell

is specifically sharp and chemically biting rather than simply gross
pungent
vsacrid
19 4.8

Having a strong, sharp smell or taste that can be unpleasant

is sharper and more offensive rather than merely stimulating
rank
vsacrid
11 6.7

Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste

is sharper and more biting rather than simply rotten or decayed
foul-smelling
vsacrid
9 4.1

A very strong stink that makes you want to move away

is sharper and more chemically biting rather than broadly rotten smelling
peppery
vsacrid
5 3.9

Having a strong spicy taste or smell like black pepper

is more chemically harsh and less purely spicy in its sharpness
acid
vsacrid
4 1.7

Tasting sour and sharp like lemon

feels harsher and more biting rather than only tart or chemical
acidic
vsacrid
3 3.5

Tasting sharp and sour like lemon or vinegar

is harsher and more offensive rather than only tart tasting
skunky
vsacrid
2 7.6

Smelling very bad like a skunk

is sharper and chemically biting rather than only animal like odor
2 3.8

Having a bad smell that people do not like

is sharper and more chemically biting rather than only having a bad odor
unsavory
vsacrid
  • US
2 6.5

Something that smells or tastes bad

is sharper and chemically biting rather than merely of poor taste
rank-smelling
vsacrid
1 7.1

Having a very strong, unpleasant smell like rotten food

is sharper and chemically biting rather than merely stale or rotten
sour
vsacrid
1 1.0

A sharp taste you feel in the mouth, like lemon

is harsher and more offensive rather than simply tart in feel
sour-tasting
vsacrid
1 1.0

Tasting sharp and like lemon or vinegar

is more burning and offensive rather than only puckering tartness
odiferous
vsacrid
1 8.5

Having a strong smell that is often unpleasant

is sharper and more chemically biting rather than simply noticeable in odor
vinegary
vsacrid
1 5.9

Having a sharp, sour taste or smell

is harsher and more offensive than ordinary kitchen tartness
ill-smelling
vsacrid
1 4.4

That has a strong, unpleasant odor

is sharper and chemically biting rather than simply badly odorous
undelicious
vsacrid
1 5.5

Not pleasant to taste, smell, or touch

is more sharply biting and offensive rather than only unpalatable
astringent
vsacrid
  • Specialized
1 7.8

A sharp sour or bitter taste that makes your mouth pucker

is more burning and harsher rather than mainly causing puckering
acerbic
vsacrid
1 7.9

A sharp sour taste like lemon or grapefruit

is harsher and more biting rather than only tart or sharp
tanged
vsacrid
1 7.7

Having a strong, sharp taste or smell that you notice quickly

is harsher and more offensive rather than only a distinctive tang
acid-tasting
vsacrid
1 3.9

Having a sharp, sour taste like lemon or vinegar

is more broadly offensive and harsher than simple chemical tang
vinegarish
vsacrid
1 8.6

A taste or smell that is sharp and sour like vinegar

is generally harsher and more biting than simple kitchen tang
acerb
vsacrid
1 9.9

Having a sour or bitter taste that feels sharp

is more broadly sharp and more offensive than simple tartness
embittered
vsacrid
5.3

Having a sharp, unpleasant taste like burnt or overcooked food

is a natural sharp unpleasant taste rather than caused by added harshness

Antonyms

76 1.0

Having a pleasant smell like flowers

How Acrid

acrid
9 6.7
pungent
19 4.8

Surface Forms

acrid positive

Etymology

Acrid comes from an old Latin word acris meaning 'sharp' or 'bitter', so imagine a smell that stings your nose or a taste that bites the tongue. That's why acrid describes a very strong, unpleasant taste or smell.