asperity

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableformal

   A sharp, rough quality in someone's voice or manner, showing irritation or bad temper.

   Grammar: Usually used without 'a': he spoke with asperity.

   Patterns

   • with asperity
   • reply with asperity

   She answered the intruder's question with some asperity.

   'I told you twice already,' he said with asperity.

   The professor's usual asperity softened when the student apologized.

2. 2nounusually pluralliteraryformal

   Hardship or difficulty in conditions, especially weather or living circumstances.

   Grammar: Often used in the plural, the asperities of winter.

   Patterns

   • the asperities of something

   Settlers endured the asperities of the northern winter.

   He was used to the asperities of life at sea.

   The poem praises those who bear the asperities of poverty without complaint.

3. 3nouncountabletechnical

   A tiny rough bump or ridge on what looks like a smooth surface.

   Grammar: Technical use, usually plural when describing surfaces: surface asperities.

   Patterns

   • asperities on something

   Under the microscope, the polished metal showed tiny asperities.

   Friction occurs when the asperities on two surfaces catch each other.

   Engineers measure asperities to predict how fast a part will wear.

Word forms

Common combinations

say with asperity

'That is quite enough,' she said with asperity.

reply with asperity

He replied with asperity that no one had asked his opinion.

asperity of tone

The asperity of his tone made everyone fall silent.

the asperities of life

Her humor helped her face the asperities of life.

surface asperities

Lubricant fills the gaps between surface asperities.

Synonyms and how they differ

sharpness

Sharpness is the everyday word for an edge in someone's tone, while asperity is more formal and a little old-fashioned.

harshness

Harshness can describe tone, weather or punishment, whereas asperity as a manner mostly means a sharp, short-tempered tone.

acerbity

Acerbity suggests a bitter, cutting wit, while asperity is closer to irritation or crossness.

gruffness

Gruffness suggests a rough, abrupt voice that may not be unkind, while asperity carries clear annoyance.

Opposites

Word family

asperous adjective

rough to the touch (rare)

exasperate verb

to make someone very annoyed, from the same Latin root

exasperation noun

strong irritation

exasperated adjective

extremely annoyed

Commonly confused: asperity or austerity?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “asperity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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