tart 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtärt How to pronounce tart (audio)
Definition of tartnext
1
as in acidic
causing or characterized by the one of the basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids I didn't add enough sugar to the lemonade, and now it's way too tart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sarcastic
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings responded to the heckler with a tart comeback

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tart

2 of 2

noun

informal + disapproving
as in prostitute
a woman who engages in sexual activities for money another movie featuring an Old West saloon scene with the requisite gamblers, gunslingers, and tarts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of tart
Adjective
Savory and a little spicy, it’s made with tart Granny Smith apples and gets body and fullness from a russet potato. — Martha Stewart, 17 Sep. 2026 The cocktails take similarly clever turns, including the Rakişikli, a tart blend of raki, mastiha liqueur, and melon juice topped with grated cheese. — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
Downstairs, visitors enjoy platters and egg tarts crafted from it. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 The bar’s Salish Sea Spritz, tart with rhubarb and blackberry, is the drink to nurse by the fire over sharing stories. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tart
  1. acidic
  2. sarcastic
  3. prostitute
  4. acid
  5. satiric
  6. hooker
  7. sour
  8. barbed
Adjective
  • Descaling solution is an acidic liquid that reacts with—and therefore breaks down—alkaline mineral build ups that happen over time wherever tap water sits or flows.
    — Emily Farris, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Bongulo Paneer — cooked in bamboo — with a coconut and capsicum poriyal blends peanut chutney with acidic gongura sour cream and fiery gunpowder.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of acidic
Adjective
  • The interest has been driven largely by the brand's casual, sarcastic tone and active participation in online trends.
    — Megan Sauer, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Before the constant stream of sarcastic Ultron commentary wears out its welcome around the series’ halfway point, the bad guy’s brevity is a nice counterpoint to all of the sentient ennui.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Noun
  • Brought to Spain, the Colombian prostitutes are required to work off a debt run up by not only the airfare but much more.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • And in the early ’80s, there were prostitutes on every street corner in Hollywood.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of prostitute
Adjective
  • Learning to season food, growing comfortable with adding salt—and ultimately acid, spice, and sweetness—according to your own preferences, is what home cooking is all about.
    — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The idea that these two would have a five-minute-or-less breakup conversation, then plop down on the couch and happily embark on an acid trip together, strains credulity a little, even for this bizarre, codependent friend group.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of acid
Adjective
  • Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards has brought back his satirical Believe That Awards, which went viral in 2025 — reaching 150 million cross-platform views — for crowning Timothée Chalamet white boy of the year.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Cockroach movement began as an online satirical campaign this summer after India’s chief justice compared unemployed young people to parasites.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of satiric
Noun
  • Depending on what the alleged hooker’s name was, maybe York was just trying to stay under the Valerie cap?
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Skipper and scrumhalf Lucu darted over after a strong run into contact from his hooker Lamothe and touched down on the half-hour to score France’s fourth try, securing a bonus competition point.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Definition of hooker
Adjective
  • Business models and strategies have a shelf life and go sour like milk left out too long.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • My mom’s siblings usually arrived in a sour mood without greeting anyone at the table, my aunt’s brow furrowed and my uncle wearing a sneaky smirk.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of sour
Adjective
  • Attorneys for the country music icon’s estate claimed Seaver covered his front porch in barbed wire and yellow caution tape, thus delaying the formal delivery of the suit.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Their long, barbed tongues can easily wind into ant and termite homes, licking up the bugs inside.
    — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of barbed

Browse Nearby Words

tars
tart
Tartarean
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tart. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tart

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tart

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All