sour or bitter in taste
harsh or corrosive in tone
"an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"
"a barrage of acid comments"
"her acrid remarks make her many enemies"
"bitter words"
"blistering criticism"
"caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"
"a sulfurous denunciation"
"a vitriolic critique"
Tasting sour or bitter.
The word acerbic comes from the Latin term acerbus, which originally meant sour or bitter. It has been in use since the 17th century.