Acrimonious   (pronounced ak-ruh-moh-nee-us) adjective

Acrimony   (pronounced ak-ruh-moh-nee) noun


Definition

ACRIMONIOUS = caustic or bitter in speech, manner, feelings, etc.

ACRIMONY = bitterness, harshness, or sharp antagonistic attitude, especially as in speech, disposition, or manner.

Main Example

  • According to Bob Woodward, author of "Bush at War," the friction between the Dick Cheney/Don Rumsfeld camp and Colin Powell over their opposing stands on Iraq sometimes results in acrimonious exchanges during meetings of the National Security Council, especially when President Bush is not present.

    Workplace Examples

  • It's not at all uncommon for people to air strong differences of opinion at our monthly operations reviews, but the level of acrimony and finger-pointing today was really quite extraordinary.

  • I wish you had allowed yourself to cool down a bit before sending out that e-mail. Some of the wording is pretty acrimonious and may come back to haunt you. You know, people don't easily forget being described as "inept" and "irresponsible" and things like that.

    Other Examples

  • there being some acrimony between the staffs of two executives who have long been bitter rivals

  • in trying to reconcile two feuding groups, your saying, "Now is the time to put all the anger and acrimony behind us, and restrengthen our organization."

  • an acrimonious divorce; an acrimonious dispute between management and labor over the number of jobs the company can eliminate as it tries to shift some manufacturing to low wage nations

  • a lawyer acrimoniously cross-examining a hostile witness

  • India and Pakistan, two acrimonious neighbors who have fought three wars and each of whom constantly accuses the other of trying to destabilize it

    © 2003 V.J. Singal

    This Month's Other Words

    Fillip
    Dissemble
    Indefatigable
    Dearth
    Irksome
    Milieu
    Coalesce

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