Acerb and Backhanded

Acerb

Acerb adjective - Marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings.
Usage example: a professor with a rather acerb sense of humor

Backhanded and acerb are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Backhanded" instead an adjective "Acerb".

Nearby Words: acerbity, acerbic

Backhanded

Backhanded adjective - Not being or expressing what one appears to be or express.

Acerb and backhanded are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Acerb" instead an adjective "Backhanded".

Nearby Words: backhander, backhand
Cite this Source
Backhanded and Acerb. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 22, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/acerb/backhanded
Acerb & Backhanded. N.p., 2016. Web. 22 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/acerb/backhanded>.
Backhanded or Acerb. 2016. Accessed July 22, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/acerb/backhanded.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "acerb" and "backhanded" have occurred on timeline