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tartness

tartness

5.6
A sharp, cutting way of speaking that sounds rude
  • noun
  • /ˈtɑrt.nəs/
translation icon : agudeza
  • Her comments were full of tartness, revealing her displeasure with the situation.

Examples

  • "Thank you," Heikki said, and could not keep a certain tartness from her voice.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The journalist's tartness in her review made it clear she did not enjoy the film.

  • Even in her polite tone, there was an underlying tartness that hinted at her frustration.

Synonyms

acrimony
vstartness
10 8.8

A bitter, angry feeling shown in words or actions

is the neutral category for sharp or cutting manner without emotion focus
sharp tongue
vstartness
4 6.1

A habit of speaking in a harsh, critical way

describes the general quality of being cutting in manner or speech
harshness
vstartness
2 3.5

A strong unpleasant effect that hurts the senses

is more about biting or bitter speech rather than sensory roughness
sharpness
vstartness
1 4.6

A harsh, sudden way of speaking that sounds unfriendly

is more about sharp bitterness than sudden or urgent tone
acerbity
vstartness
1 9.8

A sharp, bitter way of speaking that hurts people

is similar but can be less bitter and more generally cutting
abrasiveness
vstartness
1 7.0

A harsh, rude manner or tone that offends people

can be sharp or cutting but is not only about rudeness
roughness
vstartness
1 3.9

A harsh quality in a voice or behavior that feels severe

is narrower, focusing on sharp bitter or cutting manner and speech
mordancy
vstartness
  • Formal
9.8

A sharp, cutting way of speaking and writing that criticizes people and ideas

is broader covering sharp or bitter manner not only biting criticism
mordacity
vstartness
  • Formal
9.9

A tendency to make sharp, hurtful remarks

is the general quality of being sharp or cutting in manner
pungency
vstartness
8.0

Speech or writing that is sharp and often hurts people

focuses more generally on sharp or cutting manner rather than witty bite
pungence
vstartness
  • Archaic
9.5

A sharp, biting way of speaking or writing that strongly affects people

is more about sharpness that can also be bitter or cutting
acridity
vstartness
9.4

A harsh tone in speech or writing that hurts people

is the broader idea of sharp or cutting manner and speech
acridness
vstartness
8.4

A sharp, bitter way of speaking that hurts people

is similar but allows a wider sense of cutting or bitter manner
causticity
vstartness
9.7

Speech or writing that is sharply critical and makes people feel bad

is broader and includes sharpness that may be without sarcasm
thorniness
vstartness
8.9

A harsh, unfriendly manner that hurts or upsets people

is more specifically about sharp bitter manner or cutting speech

Antonyms

32 1.1

A gentle kind quality that makes others like a person

19 1.3

A kind, calm way of treating people or animals

How Sharp

acerbity
1 9.8
bitterness
75 3.4
tartness
5.6
mildness
1 3.3

Surface Forms

tartness singular
tartnesses plural

Morphology

tartness = tart (semi-transparent) = tart + ness

Formally derived from 'tart' + '-ness', but the sense is a figurative extension from taste to manner, so the relation is not fully literal.

Etymology

Tartness for speech comes from the same old tart meaning 'sharp', using the idea of a taste that 'bites'. So when someone shows tartness in their words, their remark feels 'cutting' or stings the listener.