acrimony

noun

ac·​ri·​mo·​ny ˈa-krə-ˌmō-nē 

plural acrimonies

: anger and bitterness : harsh or biting sharpness especially of words, manner, or feelings

The dispute continued with increased acrimony.

Synonyms

• acidity
• acidness
• acridity
• acridness
• asperity
• bile
• bitterness
• cattiness
• corrosiveness
• mordancy
• tartness
• virulence
• virulency
• vitriol

Examples of acrimony in a Sentence

The dispute began again with increased acrimony.

she responded with such acrimony that he never brought the subject up again

Recent Examples on the Web

The song was a regular part of the Crosby, Stills, and Nash live repertoire, but the group dissolved in 2015 after years of acrimony. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 30 Jan. 2025

Both expressed a commitment to a smooth transition, a contrast to the acrimony and violence during the end of Trump's first term, when Trump refused to accept the election results. 5. —Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 31 Dec. 2024

The acrimony between Phelan and Paxton came to a head a year and a day before Tuesday's runoffs. —John C. Moritz, Austin American-Statesman, 28 May 2024

This is a breath of fresh air in the midst of all the acrimony that’s come over the air in recent times. —Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French acrimonie, borrowed from Latin ācrimōnia, from ācr-, ācer "sharp, biting, keen" + -mōnia, suffix of abstract nouns (going back to the Indo-European noun-forming suffix *-mĕ̄n-/*-mŏ̄n- + the abstract noun formative *-i-) — more at acr-

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

acrimony

noun

ac·​ri·​mo·​ny ˈak-rə-ˌmō-nē 

plural acrimonies

: harsh or biting sharpness especially of words, manner, or disposition

acrimonious

ˌak-rə-ˈmō-nē-əs

adjective

acrimoniously adverb

acrimoniousness noun