⏰ Fairly soon 🍋 Slightly tangy 😠 A bit curt

sharpish

6.0

A little strong in taste or smell, like lemon

adjective
/ˈʃɑːpɪʃ/

: algo ácido

The lemonade had a sharpish flavor that made it very refreshing on a hot day.

Examples

This cheese has a sharpish flavor.
Can you taste the sharpish notes in this wine?
She noticed a sharpish smell coming from the kitchen and went to investigate.
A sharpish wind blew across the field, making everyone pull their jackets tighter.
The lemonade had a sharpish flavor that made it very refreshing on a hot day.
She noticed a sharpish smell coming from the kitchen and went to investigate.
A sharpish wind blew across the field, making everyone pull their jackets tighter.

Synonyms

sharp

vssharpish

67 2.2

A sudden strong pain that feels like being cut

is milder and not sudden or piercing in feeling

pungent

vssharpish

18 4.8

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

is far milder and not strongly unpleasant or intense

tangy

vssharpish

15 3.6

A strong, pleasantly sour taste like lemon

is milder and gives only a light sour brightness

acidic

vssharpish

4 3.5

Tasting sharp and sour like lemon or vinegar

is gentler and offers only a faint sour or bite

tart

vssharpish

3 2.2

Having a sharp, sour taste like a lemon

is less fruity and milder than citrus sourness

piquant

vssharpish

3 7.4

A sharp tasty flavor that makes food more interesting

is similar but lacks the same pleasant appetizing quality

astringent

vssharpish

Specialized

1 7.8

A sharp sour or bitter taste that makes your mouth pucker

is milder and does not cause a strong puckering feeling

nippy

vssharpish

7.2

A food or drink with a sharp taste that slightly stings the mouth

is milder in bite and less lively in the mouth

sourish

vssharpish

3.4

Has a slightly sharp taste like lemon

is less sour and only a faint bite in taste

acidulous

vssharpish

9.6

Slightly sour in taste or tone

is less bitter and only slightly biting

sour-tasting

vssharpish

1.0

Tasting sharp and like lemon or vinegar

is softer and only slightly acidic rather than strongly sour

sharp-tasting

vssharpish

3.9

A strong, slightly sour taste like in aged cheese or salad dressing

is less noticeable and only slightly biting or sour

tanged

vssharpish

7.7

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

is softer and lacks such strong distinctiveness

Antonyms

bland

23 2.0

Food that has a very weak taste and little or no strong flavor

dull

15 1.6

A pain that is not sharp and not strong

How Sharp

pungent

18 4.8

sharp

67 2.2

sharpish

6.0

mild

107 1.0

bland

23 2.0

Surface Forms

sharpish positive

Morphology

sharpish = sharp (transparent) = sharp + ish

Meaning 'somewhat sharp' is a straightforward diminutive/attenuative use of '-ish' on the adjective 'sharp', so learners who know 'sharp' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Sharpish comes from sharp (originally meaning 'biting' or 'cutting') plus the small ending -ish ('somewhat' or 'a little'). So a sharpish taste, smell, or wind is one that 'bites' you a little — not strong, but noticeable.