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acrid

/ˈækrəd/
/ˈækrɪd/
IPA guide

Other forms: acridly; acridest

Acrid is almost always used to describe a smell, and it ain't a pretty one. Acrid is the nasty sting that you feel in your nose when you walk by a building that just burned down — it's sulfur mixed with smoke.

You can also use acrid to describe someone's tone or general demeanor when they are being nasty. Someone about to do something evil might first give an acrid sneer, or speak in a chillingly acrid tone of voice, or even shudder as if they'd just bit into something with an acrid taste.

Definitions of acrid
  1. adjective
    strong and sharp to the sense of taste or smell
    “the acrid smell of burning rubber”
    synonyms: pungent
    tasty
    pleasing to the sense of taste
  2. adjective
    harsh or corrosive in tone
    “her acrid remarks make her many enemies”
    unpleasant
    disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘acrid'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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