acrimonious

adjective

ˌa-krə-ˈmō-nē-əs How to pronounce acrimonious (audio)
Definition of acrimoniousnext
as in angry
having or showing deep-seated resentment an acrimonious parting between the two former friends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acrimonious The film was produced entirely by Wiseman, but Clarke’s relationship with her early supporter turned acrimonious. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 On Friday, the group released their first new music since their acrimonious breakup in 2023. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026 The potential answers to these plentiful questions are all over the map and tend to instigate acrimonious debates. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Wednesday’s debate was acrimonious almost from the beginning, with the two interrupting each other throughout the night. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acrimonious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acrimonious
  1. angry
  2. rancorous
  3. sore
  4. cynical
  5. bitter
  6. embittered
  7. acrid
  8. resentful
Adjective
  • To argue that calling them immigrants is technically wrong is like getting angry at people who don’t pronounce Los Feliz the Spanish way.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Sheriff Rick Ramsay said Monday that the father later told detectives that Lopez was angry that prosecutors didn’t offer him any plea deals, so his son planned to leave the country rather than face conviction.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of angry
Adjective
  • The urge is then to try to make the financial case for paying those up-front costs, with now-rancorous calls for ‘scaling up’ investments in mitigation technologies.
    — Stephanie Walton, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
  • This is specifically what informs the ethos of Jason Scott & The High Heat, a band that has come to be known equally for their raw talent as their rancorous lyrics.
    — Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of rancorous
Adjective
  • Harvard Health Publishing notes that sloppy technique can strain the neck and leave you stiff and sore, which happen to be some of the same symptoms people blame on tech neck.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • My arm is sore from holding my phone at arm’s length for 10 minutes during the media scrum after the show.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of sore
Adjective
  • Swarup’s book exposes the cynical nature of the quiz show, dangling a literal lifeline to desperate people for the sake of entertainment.
    — L.M. Chilton, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Myriad people inside Warner Bros are cynical about the capping of severances and the fact that only a few at the top are bound for a post-merger windfall.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • When Hanne, a staff member of a struggling animal rescue, unexpectedly becomes executor of a wealthy hunting family’s estate, a bitter battle over the inheritance erupts.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This bitter rivalry, which dates back to the 1960s, will see its second 2026 installment at Arrowhead Stadium in January.
    — Pete Sweeney October 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of bitter
Adjective
  • After a pair of SEC Championships and a national title during his five-year tenure with the Tigers, Saban departed for the NFL, leaving many folks on the bayou feeling embittered and betrayed.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In one scene, Amy heroically assuages an embittered foster kid by returning him to the memory of a fun school field trip.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of embittered
Adjective
  • All law enforcement smell the same, like acrid bile buried in roses.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Finding places to play Eight miles from central Nairobi, the air over the Dandora landfill is gauzy with the acrid, chemical smoke of burning garbage.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of acrid
Adjective
  • Eventually released, the resentful ex-con experiences a Damascene conversion due to the Christian compassion of Monseigneur Myriel (Frédéric Pierrot).
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Over the five hours that follow, the series tracks what led to the tragedy — specifically, his complicated relationship with his resentful, bigoted next-door neighbor, Clive (David Morrissey).
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of resentful

Browse Nearby Words

acridness
acrimonious
acrimoniously
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Cite this Entry

“Acrimonious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acrimonious. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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