acrimony
/ˈakrɪməni
/noun [mass noun]
Bitterness or ill feeling: the AGM dissolved into acrimony...
- But what should have been one of the publishing events of this year has now descended into astonishing depths of bitterness and acrimony.
- Long-term damage can be caused to children exposed to acrimony and bitterness in family breakdown.
- It's only recently and as a result of all the bitter acrimony that he realised that they can't sort it out.
Synonyms
bitterness, rancour, resentment, ill feeling, ill will, bad blood, animosity, hostility, enmity, antagonism, irascibility, waspishness, spleen;
malice, spitefulness, crabbedness, causticity, sarcasm, venom, poison, viciousness, nastiness, harshness, sharpness, acerbity, virulence, astringency;
grudge, grievance
Origin
Mid 16th century (in the sense 'bitter taste or smell'): from French acrimonie or Latin acrimonia, from acer, acri- 'pungent, acrid'.