sharp-tongued
Quick with insults
Sharp-tongued describes someone who speaks in a cutting, critical, or harshly clever way.
A sharp-tongued person delivers pointed remarks that sting: Her sharp-tongued wit made colleagues wary of disagreeing with her.
The term suggests verbal precision wielded as a weapon—not mere rudeness, but incisive speech that finds its mark.
Mockingly insincere in tone
- sardonicGrimly mocking
- ironicExpressing contrary meaning
- cleverShowing mental quickness
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
repartee · quips · cutting · incisive · trenchant · quick-witted · pointed · dry
Sharp and biting
- vitriolicHarshly bitter and corrosive
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- corrosiveDestroys by chemical action
- acidicBelow neutral pH
biting · stinging · harsh · scathing · mordant · bitter · acrimonious · poisonous
Severely critical in judgment
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
- disparagingExpressing negative judgment
reproachful · condemnatory · unsparing · severe · denunciatory · vituperative · belittling · pejorative
sarcastic
Mockingly insincere in tone
banter · repartee · quips · cutting · incisive · trenchant · quick-witted · pointed · dry · acerbic
acerbic
Sharp and biting
- vitriolicHarshly bitter and corrosive
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- corrosiveDestroys by chemical action
acidic · biting · stinging · harsh · scathing · mordant · bitter · acrimonious · poisonous · astringent
censorious
Severely critical in judgment
- fault-findingExcessive focus on errors
- hypercriticalExcessively prone to censure
- judgmentalInclined to criticize others
disparaging · reproachful · condemnatory · unsparing · severe · denunciatory · vituperative · belittling · pejorative · contemptuous
- rudenessrude, discourtesy, impolite, rudeness, disrespect
sharp-tonguedsoft-spoken
Speaking quietly, gently
honeyed · mild-mannered · honey-tongued · gentle · tender
sharp-tongueddiplomatic
Tactful and sensitive
tactful · discreet · considerate · polite · kind
sharp-tonguedtight-lipped
Unwilling to divulge
taciturn · reticent · reserved · quiet · uncritical
sharp, tongue, sharpen, sharpness, sharply, sharpened, tongues, sharpener, tongued