Acridness refers to a sharp, irritating, burning quality, typically of a smell or taste, or a harsh, acrimonious demeanor. It describes something that provokes a strong, often unpleasant reaction and is characterized by a biting, pungent intensity. The term conveys an extreme degree of irritation or offense in sensory or figurative contexts.
- US: rhotic /r/ colors the /ə/ or /ɪ/ in rid differently; keep /æ/ strong, and ensure crisp /kr/ release. - UK: may be slightly crisper with less rhotic influence; maintain /æ/ with sharp /kr/ onset. - AU: allow a slightly broader vowel and less pronounced r-coloring; keep the /kr/ cluster intact. IPA reference: /ˈæ.krɪd.nəs/ across variants.
"The acridness of the chemical fumes made her eyes sting and her throat close up."
"Their acridness in the debate left a sour mood that lingered long after the discussion ended."
"He grimaced at the acridness of the burnt toast that filled the kitchen with a sour odor."
"The acridness of the argument suggested unresolved anger beneath their calm voices."
Acridness derives from the adjective acrid, which comes from Latin acridus, which itself stems from the Latin acer- meaning sharp, bitter, sour. The suffix -id in English often conveys a sense of having a quality (from Latin -idus). The noun form acridness emerged in English to denote the state or quality of being acrid, especially in reference to smells or tastes. The word gained traction in early modern English texts dealing with sensory descriptions and later broadened to include figurative uses (such as acridness of speech or temperament). The sense of intensity in sensory experiences—smell, taste, or tone—helped cement acridness as a vivid descriptor in literature and science, persisting into contemporary usage with both literal and metaphorical applications.
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Words that rhyme with "Acridness"
-ess sounds
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Pronounce as /ˈæ.krid.nəs/. The primary stress is on the first syllable AC-, with a clear, short /æ/ as in 'cat', followed by /krɪd/ where /kr/ begins with an unreleased kick of the tongue, and ends with a light /nəs/. Say "AC-rid-ness" smoothly and quickly. You can listen to pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo to hear natural speaker variants.
Common mistakes: (1) Overemphasizing the second syllable, turning it into ac-RID-ness; (2) Mispronouncing /æ/ as /e/ or /ʌ/ leading to ack-rid-ness; (3) Omitting the /r/ or blending /kr/ with a weak initial consonant. Correction: maintain strong initial /æ/ in AC-, keep the /k/ + /r/ cluster tight at the onset of -rid-, and clearly vocalize the final /nəs/ with a short, unstressed final syllable.
In US English, the initial vowel is a tense /æ/ with rhotic /r/ influence, and the final /-ness/ is unstressed. UK English tends to have sharper /æ/ and a slightly less rhotic approach in some regions; /æ/ remains fronted. Australian speakers often have a broader, flatter /æ/ and a more clipped /ˈæ.krɪdnəs/ with a neutral vowel in -ness. Across accents, the /kr/ cluster remains intact, but vowel qualities and r-coloring vary. IPA: US /ˈæ.krɪd.nəs/, UK /ˈæk.rɪd.nəs/, AU /ˈæk.rɪd.nəs/.
The difficulty lies in the /æ/ vowel before the /k/ and the /kr/ consonant cluster, which demands a precise tongue position and timing. The r-colored or non-r-colored variations, followed by a quick unstressed -ness, can trip non-native speakers. Focusing on the crisp onset of /æ/ then tightly releasing /kr/ and finishing with a clear schwa-like /nəs/ helps produce a natural, standard pronunciation across accents.
Acridness features a strong initial stress with a tight onset in the /ækr/ cluster, followed by a light, quick /nəs/. The unique factor is the /kr/ blend immediately after the vowel, which requires precise tongue retraction and a rapid release into the /ɪ/ vowel of rid. Pay attention to the subtle difference between /ɪ/ in rid and the more reduced final syllable /əs/ in ness. IPA: /ˈæ.krɪd.nəs/.
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