What is the difference between cynical and acerbic?
cynical | acerbic |
Of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness.
*(Samuel Johnson) (1709-1784)
*:I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received.
Skeptical of the integrity, sincerity, or motives of others.
Bitterly or jadedly distrustful or contemptuous; mocking.
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*:He seldom talked, and when he did, it was usually to make some cynical remark-for instance, he would say that God had given him a tail to keep the flies off, but that he would sooner have had no tail and no flies.
Showing contempt for accepted moral standards by one's actions.
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*:When he, at Neergard's cynical suggestion, had consented to exploit his own cluband had consented to resign from it to do so, he had every reason to believe that Neergard meant to either mulct them heavily or buy them out. In either case, having been useful to Neergard, his profits from the transaction would have been considerable.
Like the actions of a snarling dog.
:
Tasting sour or bitter.
* 1998 Aug. 5, Dr. Peter Gott, "
Sharp, harsh, biting.
* 1986 Sept. 22, "
* 2005 May 5, Jay Mathews, "Don't Fire This Professor," Washington Post , p. T6:
As adjectives the difference between cynical and acerbic
is that cynical is of or relating to the belief that human actions are motivated only or primarily by base desires or selfishness while acerbic is tasting sour or bitter.cynical
English
Adjective
(en adjective)References
* * *acerbic
English
Adjective
(en adjective)Can inhaler cause addiction?," Catoosa County News (retrieved 19 Sep 2009):
- Those consumers who object to the acerbic taste of garlic can purchase de-odorized garlic or allicin extract.
West Germany: Last Taunts From the Lip," Time (retrieved 25 Apr 2014):
- Supercompetent, superconfident and supercritical, Schmidt is a gifted orator whose acerbic wit earned him the nickname "Schmidt the Lip."
- [H]e is one of the most acerbic people in his field, quick to take offense and not shy about telling people with whom he disagrees how much he thinks they have failed in thought and action.