VCR Lesson 8 Presentation
Natalie-Rose Ross
Fill in the Blank With the Most Appropriate Word From Lesson 8
The ___________ smell of burning rubber from the car tires stung Lauren's eyes and irritated her throat.
And the Word Is...
Acrid
adj.
Bitterly pungent or harsh in taste or smell; sharply stinging.
Alternate uses of Acrid
Acridity n.
Acridness n.
Acridly adv.
Synonyms
Pungent, Acidic, Irritating, Harsh
Antonyms
Complimentary, Kind, Inviting, Sweet
When is Acrid Used?
Acrid is most commonly used to describe a fire or something burning. For example, a forest fire or the smell of burning rubber; the scent is so strong that it can make your eyes sting. Acrid is also frequently used when describing a bitter or caustic person and/or their remarks.
Often Confused With...
Acid / Acidic: sour, tart to the taste
Pungent: strong odor that stings the nose, mostly spicy or acidic
Acrid is more harsh and sharp, not usually used to describe taste
Acrid's Roots
Acrid was first used in 1633 and has a Latin origin.
acer <L. "sharp"
acerbo, acerbare, acerbavi, acerbatum <L. "to make sour"
acerbus <L. "bitter" "sour" "harsh"
Choose the Sentence Where ACRID is Used Incorrectly
a. The acrid stench of sulfur in the air burned Jill's eyes, making them water.
b. A thick cloud of acrid smoke quickly filled the small cabin once it had caught on fire.
c. I always dread babysitting little Johnny because he is filled with sarcastic, acrid comments that can tend to be offensive.
d. My mother always greets me with an acrid comment, usually beginning with "Hey honey? How was your day?".
The Correct Answer is D
In this context, acrid is presented to mean the opposite of the actual definition. An antonym such as "kind" or "complementary" would be more appropriate.