acridity
Harsh biting quality
Acridity is the quality of being acrid—sharp, bitter, or irritating, especially to the senses.
Smoke has acridity when it stings the eyes and throat.
The word extends to harsh or caustic speech: The acridity of her criticism surprised everyone.
It's the noun form where acrid is the adjective and acridly the adverb.
Sharp smell or taste
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
- burningCombustion in progress
sulfur · ammonia · chlorine · smoldering · charred · singed · exhaust · soot
Destroys by chemical action
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
- acidicBelow neutral pH
- alkalineHaving high pH
- reactiveTending to respond
volatile · toxicity · irritant · fumes · oxidizing · sulfuric · nitric · hydrochloric
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- astringencyDrying, puckering quality
- sournessAcidic taste quality
- tanninPlant-derived astringent compound
- bileLiver-made digestive fluid
gall · wormwood · quinine · oversteeped · unsweetened · chicory · dandelion · endive
Chemically burning; bitterly mocking
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
trenchant · sardonic · vitriolic · mordant · stinging · sharp-tongued · incisive · sarcastic
Persistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- rancorLasting bitter resentment
animosity · spite · venom · sourness · ill-will · grudge · disaffection · embitterment
pungency
Sharp smell or taste
- sharpnessKeenness of edge, mind, or image
- smokeAirborne combustion byproduct
- fumesAirborne chemical irritants
burning · sulfur · ammonia · chlorine · smoldering · charred · singed · exhaust · soot · tar
corrosive
Destroys by chemical action
reactive · volatile · toxicity · irritant · fumes · oxidizing · sulfuric · nitric · hydrochloric · formaldehyde
bitterness
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- astringencyDrying, puckering quality
- sournessAcidic taste quality
- tanninPlant-derived astringent compound
bile · gall · wormwood · quinine · oversteeped · unsweetened · chicory · dandelion · endive · radicchio
caustic
Chemically burning; bitterly mocking
harsh · trenchant · sardonic · vitriolic · mordant · stinging · sharp-tongued · incisive · sarcastic · barbed
resentment
Persistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
rancor · animosity · spite · venom · sourness · ill-will · grudge · disaffection · embitterment · gall
- pungent foodshorseradish, wasabi, raw garlic, raw onion, mustard
- sharpnesssharpness, edge, keenness, point, blade edge
acriditysweetness
Sugary taste quality
mildness · blandness · mellowness · smoothness · pleasantness
acriditygentleness
Soft, kind demeanor
kindness · mildness · kindliness · warmth · sweetness
acrid, acerbic, exacerbate, acrimony, acrimonious, acridness