Polemics - English meaning

adjective

(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

Usage examples:

His acerbic wit

adjective

Used to describe something that is spoken or written in a way that is direct, clever, and cruel

Usage examples:

The letters show the acerbic wit for which parker was both admired and feared.

noun

A substance with particular chemical properties including turning litmus red, neutralizing alkalis, and dissolving some metals; typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid of this kind.

Usage examples:

Trees were exposed to mixtures of heavy metals, acids, and overdoses of nutrients

adjective

Containing acid or having the properties of an acid; having a ph of less than 7.

Usage examples:

Acid soils

noun

Any of various chemical substances that can produce salts, some of which are able to damage whatever they touch

Usage examples:

The salad dressing has an acid taste.

adjective

(of insects and certain other animals) able to wound the skin with a sting or fangs.

Usage examples:

A cream to ward off biting insects

verb

(of a person or animal) use the teeth to cut into or through something.

Usage examples:

He bit off a piece of cheese

noun

A bite-sized piece of food; a small snack, appetizer, or canapé.

Usage examples:

The hotel bar serves cocktails and delicious bitings

adjective

Having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet.

Usage examples:

Raw berries have an intensely bitter flavour

noun

Beer that is strongly flavoured with hops and has a bitter taste, brewed by top fermentation.

Usage examples:

A pint of bitter

adjective

Having a slightly stinging, strong taste, not salty or sweet

Usage examples:

The coffee was bitter., losing the election was a bitter disappointment., she has no bitterness abo…

adjective

Able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

Usage examples:

A caustic cleaner

noun

A caustic substance.

Usage examples:

Spent grain, yeast, ethanol, and acids and caustics used for cleaning are all sent out to be used f…

adjective

Strongly critical

Usage examples:

A caustic remark

adjective

Tending to cause corrosion.

Usage examples:

The corrosive effects of salt water

noun

A corrosive substance.

Usage examples:

That is an enormous range of substances and, as has already been pointed out, it includes explosive…

adjective

A corrosive substance causes damage by chemical action

Usage examples:

A highly corrosive acid, the corrosive influence of racism

adjective

Expressing adverse or disapproving comments or judgements.

Usage examples:

I was very critical of the previous regime

adjective

Of the greatest importance

Usage examples:

Critical industries, what happens in the next 48 hours is critical., he was admitted to metropolita…

adjective

Extremely important to the progress or success of something

Usage examples:

Critical to/for sth logistics and distribution are critical to an e-commerce venture's success., cr…

noun

The action of cutting something.

Usage examples:

The cutting of the cake

adjective

Capable of cutting something.

Usage examples:

The cutting blades of the hedge trimmer

verb

Make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp-edged tool or object.

Usage examples:

He cut his toe on a sharp stone

adjective

Showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly.

Usage examples:

A hostile audience

adjective

Characterized by enmity or ill will

adjective

Showing strong dislike; unfriendly

Usage examples:

Her parents were openly hostile to me., the nevada desert is one of the most hostile regions in ame…

adjective

Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm.

Usage examples:

A keen gardener

verb

Wail in grief for a dead person.

Usage examples:

The body of johnny was taken by his own people who keened over him

noun

An irish funeral song accompanied by wailing in lamentation for the dead.

adjective

Of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech.

Usage examples:

A polemical essay

adjective

Having a sharply strong taste or smell.

Usage examples:

The pungent smell of frying onions

adjective

(of a smell or taste) very strong, sometimes in an unpleasant way

Usage examples:

Pungent odors

adjective

Marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt.

Usage examples:

Making sarcastic comments

adjective

Using remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what you say, in order to hurt someone's feelings or to humorously criticize something

Usage examples:

A sarcastic comment/remark, are you being sarcastic?

adjective

Grimly mocking or cynical.

Usage examples:

Starkey attempted a sardonic smile

adjective

Witheringly scornful; severely critical.

Usage examples:

She launched a scathing attack on the prime minister

verb

Harm; injure.

Usage examples:

He was barely scathed

adjective

Severely critical and unkind

Usage examples:

He delivered a scathing attack on the president.

adjective

(of an object) having an edge or point that is able to cut or pierce something.

Usage examples:

Cut the cake with a very sharp knife

adverb

Precisely (used after an expression of time).

Usage examples:

The meeting starts at 7.30 sharp

noun

A musical note raised a semitone above natural pitch.

Usage examples:

Choices in successive levels expand to all notes, then sharps and flats.

adjective

Having a sting; capable of wounding or piercing with a sting.

Usage examples:

A swarm of stinging insects

verb

Wound or pierce with a sting.

Usage examples:

He was stung by a jellyfish

noun

An open pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling.

Usage examples:

An apple tart

verb

Dress or make oneself up in order to look attractive.

Usage examples:

I tarted myself up for the night

adjective

Sharp or acid in taste.

Usage examples:

A tart apple

adjective

Vigorous or incisive in expression or style.

Usage examples:

The white paper makes trenchant criticisms of health authorities

adjective

(of something said or written) forcefully and effectively expressed, and often in few words

Usage examples:

I enjoy reading murray’s trenchant comments on the relationship between sports and society.

adjective

(of an animal, especially a snake) secreting venom; capable of injecting venom by means of a bite or sting.

Usage examples:

A leading expert on venomous snakes

adjective

A venomous snake, insect, etc., produces venom (= a poisonous liquid that can be put into another animal's body by biting or stinging)

Usage examples:

Possible hazards include mosquitoes, sandflies, and venomous snakes., the florida cottonmouth snake…

adjective

(of a disease or poison) extremely severe or harmful in its effects.

Usage examples:

A virulent strain of influenza

adjective

(of a disease) dangerous and spreading quickly, or (of poison) having an effect very quickly

Usage examples:

A virulent strain of flu, virulent speech, several newspapers mounted virulent attacks.

adjective

A virulent disease or poison is dangerous and spreads or affects people very quickly

Usage examples:

A particularly virulent strain of flu has recently claimed a number of lives in the region.

adjective

Filled with bitter criticism or malice.

Usage examples:

Vitriolic attacks on the politicians

adjective

Readily expressing anger or irritation.

Usage examples:

He had a waspish tongue

adjective

Likely to make sharp, slightly cruel remarks; having a slightly angry and unpleasant manner

Usage examples:

She had a waspish tongue which could hurt.