əˈsɜːb əˈsɜɹb əˈsɜː(ɹ)bɪk əˈsɜ(ɹ)bɪk ˈæs.ɪd ˈæk.ɹɪd ˈkɔːstɪk ˈdɛd.li

ˈsʌlfəɹəs sʌlˈfjuɹəs ˈvɛnəməs ˈvɪɹ(j)ʊl(ə)nt ˈvɪɹ(j)ələnt vɪtɹɪˈɒlɪk infectious; having the ability to cause disease 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 extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom venomous snakes a virulent insect bite