acidulous

/əˈsɪdʒələs/

Other forms: acidulously

If you make lemonade and forget the sugar, the drink would have an acidulous or sour taste. If someone makes a snarky comment about your culinary skills, you might call their comments acidulous or bitter.

In either usage, the word acidulous leaves a sour taste in your mouth, or a pursed expression on your face. You see the word acid in the word, which, in fact, can also be used in both senses. Someone's acid remarks will be just as hurtful as their acidulous ones. Lemons are an acidic fruit, as are most citrus fruits, but lemons are more acidulous than oranges.

Definitions of acidulous

1. adjective

   being sour to the taste
   synonyms: acid, acidic, acidulent

   sour

   having a sharp biting taste