Words / C2

akr-i-MOHN-ee-uh-s/ˌækrɪˈməʊniəs/

Acrimonious means an argument has turned bitter — not just loud, but sour and personal. Angry is everyday; heated can still be fair. Writers use it for debates, divorces, and splits that leave a taste: an acrimonious meeting. In speech, say it turned nasty or bitter; acrimonious sounds like a news report. Save it for the tone of the exchange, not for one sharp sentence.

Meaning

Angry and bitter, especially in speech or argument.

Examples

• “The debate became acrimonious.”
• “Talks ended in an acrimonious exchange of letters.”
• “What began as a budget dispute grew acrimonious.”

Good to know

acrimonious debate/split. Bitter, not merely loud. Everyday: bitter / nasty. News and essays.

Near in meaning

bitter

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