caustic
1caus·tic
adjective \ˈkȯs-tik\Definition of CAUSTIC
2
: marked by incisive sarcasm
3
: relating to or being the surface or curve of a caustic
— caus·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
— caus·tic·i·ty \kȯ-ˈsti-sə-tē\ noun
Examples of CAUSTIC
- The chemical was so caustic that it ate through the pipes.
- She wrote a caustic report about the decisions that led to the crisis.
- His [Roosevelt's] caustic cousin, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, called him a sissy and a mama's boy. —Garry Wills, Atlantic, April 1994
- It was Schuyler's gift for satire and his caustic wit that distinguished his writings and led to his nickname, the Black Mencken. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New York Times Book Review, 20 Sept. 1992
- Albert quailed before those caustic pronouncements, he shuddered and blanched and felt his stomach drop like a croquette into a vat of hot grease. —T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, October 1987
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Origin of CAUSTIC
Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaiein to burn
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to CAUSTIC
Synonym Discussion of CAUSTIC
caustic, mordant, acrid, scathing mean stingingly incisive. caustic suggests a biting wit <caustic comments>. mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness <mordant reviews of the play>. acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence <acrid invective>. scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity <a scathing satire>.
2caus·tic
noun \ˈkȯs-tik\Definition of CAUSTIC
1
: a caustic agent: as a : a substance that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action b : sodium hydroxide
Origin of CAUSTIC
(see 1caustic)
First Known Use: 15th century
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