The Collaborative International Dictionary
Acrimony \Ac"ri*mo*ny\, n.; pl. Acrimonies. [L. acrimonia, fr. acer, sharp: cf. F. acrimonie.]
A quality of bodies which corrodes or destroys others; also, a harsh or biting sharpness; as, the acrimony of the juices of certain plants. [Archaic]
--Bacon.-
Sharpness or severity, as of language or temper; irritating bitterness of disposition or manners.
John the Baptist set himself with much acrimony and indignation to baffle this senseless arrogant conceit of theirs.
--South.Syn: Acrimony, Asperity, Harshness, Tartness.
Usage: These words express different degrees of angry feeling or language. Asperity and harshness arise from angry feelings, connected with a disregard for the feelings of others. Harshness usually denotes needless severity or an undue measure of severity. Acrimony is a biting sharpness produced by an imbittered spirit. Tartness denotes slight asperity and implies some degree of intellectual readiness. Tartness of reply; harshness of accusation; acrimony of invective.
In his official letters he expressed, with great acrimony, his contempt for the king's character.
--Macaulay.It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received.
--Johnson.A just reverence of mankind prevents the growth of harshness and brutality.
--Shaftesbury. [1913 Webster] ||
Wiktionary
n. (plural of acrimony English)
Usage examples of "acrimonies".
To be sure, it would be remiss not to remark also that, as one would expect, some of the pettiest of jealousies, the most absurd of resentments, the vilest of acrimonies and the most inveterate of hatreds can obtain among these beautiful, vain, vital creatures, within the same house, where contests often rage, sometimes subtly and sometimes not, for the favor of the master, on which contests, needless to say, considerable shiftings in rank and hierarchy may hinge.