- Today's Word
Acerbic
uh-SUR-bik
Definition
- (adjective) Harsh, sharp, or biting in tone, manner, or taste.
Example
His acerbic wit made him popular among his friends but often got him into trouble.
Fun Fact
“Acerbic” comes from the Latin acerbus, meaning “bitter” or “sour,” originally referring to taste. Over time, the word took on a figurative meaning, describing sharp or cutting remarks. Many famous figures—like Dorothy Parker and Oscar Wilde—were known for their acerbic humor, delivering witty but often biting commentary.
(adjective) Presented in a shockingly vivid or sensational way, especially regarding unpleasant or scandalous details.
The tabloid’s lurid account of the scandal left nothing to the imagination — every uncomfortable detail splashed across the front page in breathless, unnecessary detail.
Lurid derives from the Latin luridus, meaning “pale yellow,” “wan,” or “ghastly” — originally describing the sickly, pallid color of someone in shock or the eerie glow of fire through smoke. It entered English in the 17th century carrying that same unsettling visual quality, initially used to describe ghastly or glaring light before expanding into its modern sense of sensational, shocking content that feels uncomfortably vivid and impossible to look away from.