as·trin·gent 
/əˈstrɪnʤənt/ adjective
/əˈstrɪnʤənt/ adjective [more astringent; most astringent] 1 medical : causing body tissues (such as skin) to tighten — used to describe a liquid or lotion that makes the skin less oily or that helps to stop a cut from bleeding ▪ astringent lotions 2 : having a sharp or bitter quality
▪ an astringent taste 3 : very critical in a sharp and often clever way
▪ Her speech included some astringent [=caustic, biting] comments about the other candidate. ▪ an astringent critic of modern movies
▪ an astringent taste
▪ Her speech included some astringent [=caustic, biting] comments about the other candidate. ▪ an astringent critic of modern movies
— as·trin·gen·cy /əˈstrɪnʤənsi/ noun [noncount]
▪ the astringency of her comments
/əˈstrɪnʤənsi/ noun [noncount] ▪ the astringency of her comments
— astringent noun, plural astringents [count] medical
▪ She used an astringent on her face.
▪ She used an astringent on her face.
— as·trin·gent·ly adverb
▪ an astringently ironic writer
▪ an astringently ironic writer
