acerb
acerbic
acid
acrid
bitter
blistering
caustic
sulfurous
sulphurous
virulent
vitriolic
harsh or corrosive in tone
an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose
a barrage of acid comments
her acrid remarks make her many enemies
bitter words
blistering criticism
caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics
a sulfurous denunciation
a vitriolic critique
astringent
sour or bitter in taste