acrimonious

[ ak-ruh-moh-nee-uh s ]

/ ˌæk rəˈmoʊ ni əs /

caustic, stinging, or bitter in nature, speech, behavior, etc.: an acrimonious answer; an acrimonious dispute.

Origin of acrimonious

From the Medieval Latin word ācrimōniōsus, dating back to 1605–15. See acrimony, -ous

ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ly, adverb ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ness, noun un·ac·ri·mo·ni·ous, adjective un·ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ly, adverb

un·ac·ri·mo·ni·ous·ness, noun

And as our political life grows more divided and acrimonious, so will our legal system.

A Reminder: Our Justices are Politicians in Robes |Jedediah Purdy |November 13, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Craig Dershowitz spent $60,000 fighting for the return of his dog Knuckles after an acrimonious breakup with his girlfriend.

Divorce Is Going to the Dogs, Literally |Keli Goff |June 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The second is a much smaller matter regarding an acrimonious election involving a few hundred voters.

Setting the Record Straight on a Meretz Scandal |Ralph Seliger |July 17, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
That ability to straddle two sides of an acrimonious divide has served Leavell well—not only in politics, but also in music.

Stones’ Keyboard Man Is Ardent Forester |David A. Graham |June 16, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

"How acrimonious that gets is really up to them," Issa's spokesman says of the Democrats.

The GOP's New Top Cop |Howard Kurtz |November 27, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
He did not wish to imperil Alan's superb aloofness by involving him in the acrimonious and undignified defence of a friend.

Sinister Street, vol. 1 |Compton Mackenzie
The very title has afforded ground for censure, for licentious imitation 18, and for acrimonious abuse.

The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., in Nine Volumes, Volume the Second |Samuel Johnson
In these often acrimonious controversies, Sherman himself took a leading part.

Life of Wm. Tecumseh Sherman. |W. Fletcher Johnson
They are charged with imparting a biting and acrimonious taste to radishes and turnips.

The American Reformed Cattle Doctor |George Dadd
The answers which he received from Versailles were cold and acrimonious.

The History of England from the Accession of James II. |Thomas Babington Macaulay

acrimonious

/ (ˌækrɪˈməʊnɪəs) /

characterized by bitterness or sharpness of manner, speech, temper, etc

acrimoniously, adverb acrimoniousness, noun