corrosive

cor·ro·sive

adjective \-ˈrō-siv, -ziv\

Definition of CORROSIVE

1

: tending or having the power to corrode <corrosive acids> <corrosive action> <the corrosive effects of alcoholism>

2

: bitingly sarcastic <corrosive satire>

— corrosive noun

— cor·ro·sive·ly adverb

— cor·ro·sive·ness noun

Examples of CORROSIVE

1. She argues that racism is dangerous and corrosive to society.
2. <a corrosive satire on the fashion industry and its movers and shakers>

First Known Use of CORROSIVE

14th century

Related to CORROSIVE

Synonyms

acerb, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulous, acrid, barbed, biting, caustic, sarcastic, cutting, mordant, pungent, sardonic, satiric (or satirical), scalding, scathing, sharp, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, smart-mouthed, snarky, tart

Related Words

brisk, cross, sharp-tongued, sour, sourish, spiky (also spikey), tartish; incisive, keen, poignant, trenchant; cynical, dry, ironic (also ironical), wry; facetious, flippant, tongue-in-cheek; acrimonious, bitter, resentful, vitriolic; harsh, rough, severe, stringent; abrupt, blunt, brusque (also brusk), concise, crisp, curt, gruff, pithy, snippety, snippy, succinct, terse; backhanded, insincere

Near Antonyms

amusing, droll, merry, playful, sportive, waggish; gentle, mild; bland; good-humored, good-natured; diplomatic, polite, smooth, suave, urbane; affable, cordial, genial, gracious, hospitable, sociable

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with CORROSIVE

erosive, explosive, implosive