acerbic

adj.

having a sour or bitter taste or character; sharp; biting

Syn: acidic, acrid, astringent, caustic, harsh, tart, piquant

Ant: bland, sweet

acidulous

adj.

slightly sour; sharp, caustic; bitter in speech

Syn: acerbic, piquant, sharp; biting, mocking, sarcastic

Ant: sweet; kind, nice

acrimonious

adj.

caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature, speech, behavior, etc.

Syn: acerbic, angry, belligerent, churlish, cutting, indignant, irascible, petulant, sarcastic, trenchant, vitriolic

Ant: kind, complimentary, nice, peacable

asperity

n.

1. harshness or sharpness of tone, temper, or manner;

2. hardship, difficulty;

3. roughness or unevenness of surface;

4. something rough or harsh.

Syn: acrimony, bitterness, difficulty, irascibility, acidity, asperity, astringency, mordancy, sourness

Ant: calmness, happiness, kindness, mildness, sweetness

astringent

adj.

harsh, severe; having a tightening effect on living tissue

Syn: ascetic, acrid, biting, bitter, sharp, caustic, tart

Ant: bland, mild

caustic

adj.

burning or stinging; causing corrosion

Syn: abrasive, acerbic, acrid, biting, mordant; incisive, pithy, rough, scathing, trenchant

Ant: calm, mild, soothing; kind, nice, unsarcastic

mordant

adj.

sharply caustic or sarcastic, as wit or speaker; biting, burning, corrosive; nasty in behavior or words

Syn: sarcastic, acerbic, biting, caustic, cynical, disparaging, disrespectful, sardonic, hurtful, offensive, trenchant, vitriolic

Ant: kind, nice, complimentary

piquant

adj.

agreeably pungent or sharp in taste or flavor; pleasantly biting or tart

Syn: interesting, lively, provocative, spirited, zesty

Ant: bland, dull

shard

n.

a piece of broken pottery or glass.