Arrange the following in increasing order of their acidic character: Benzoic acid, Phenol, Cresol

Benzoic acid has a stronger electron-withdrawing group than phenol (i.e., -COOH than -OH), while cresol has an electron-donating group (-CH3). Electron-withdrawing groups increase the acidic character, and electron-donating groups decrease the acidic character. Thus, the increasing order of acidic character is: Benzoic acid > Phenol > Cresol