mordancy
noun
mor·dan·cy
ˈmȯr-dᵊn(t)-sē 
1
: a biting and caustic quality of style : incisiveness
2
: a sharply critical or bitter quality of thought or feeling : harshness
Synonyms
Examples of mordancy in a Sentence
the surprising mordancy with which the two physicians contested each other's claim to having discovered an effective vaccine for polio
Recent Examples on the Web
But Lloyd’s version brims with mordancy.
—
Sarah Weinman, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2023
The gray-tint, cross-hatched drawings evoke George Cruikshank and Samuel Palmer, but the mordancy is vintage Sendak.
—The Week Staff, The Week, 17 Oct. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sarah Weinman, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2023
The gray-tint, cross-hatched drawings evoke George Cruikshank and Samuel Palmer, but the mordancy is vintage Sendak.
—The Week Staff, The Week, 17 Oct. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near mordancy
Cite this Entry
“Mordancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mordancy. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share