Withering vs Acerbic - What's the difference?
withering | acerbic |
Tending to destroy, devastate, overwhelm or cause complete destruction.
Diminishing rapidly.
Tending to make someone feel small; scornful in a mortifying way.
The act of something that withers.
* 1839 , William Jenkyn, ?James Sherman, An Exposition Upon the Epistle of Jude (page 274)
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 withering and acerbic
is that withering is tending to destroy, devastate, overwhelm or cause complete destruction while acerbic is tasting sour or bitter.As a verb withering
is .As a noun withering
is the act of something that withers.withering
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- The D-Day troops came under withering fire .
- The playboy seemed oblivious to his withering fortune as he continued in his decadent lifestyle .
- Jane's mother in law gave her a withering look .
- He made withering remarks about his adversary .
Verb
(head)Noun
(en noun)- Spiritual witherings and decayings are opposite to the word of God.
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.