corrosive

adjective

cor·​ro·​sive kə-ˈrō-siv 

-ziv

1

: tending or having the power to corrode

corrosive acids

corrosive action

the corrosive effects of alcoholism

2

: bitingly sarcastic

corrosive satire

corrosive noun

corrosively adverb

corrosiveness noun

Synonyms

• satirical
• sarcastic
• satiric
• acidic
• acid
• caustic
• barbed

Examples of corrosive in a Sentence

She argues that racism is dangerous and corrosive to society.

a corrosive satire on the fashion industry and its movers and shakers

Recent Examples on the Web

Specifically, there are a ton of underbarrel attachments that are great, from hucking cleavers at enemies for one shot kills, shooting out gravity wells, laying down corrosive pools or an AOE energy blast around you. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

New research published Tuesday from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that the barrels with halos contain caustic alkaline waste — a highly corrosive material that has been leaking out of the barrels for decades. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025

Electrochemical impedance results showed lower resistance, faster ion flow, and fewer corrosive by-products. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2025

The corrosive idea that evil happens out there is what sustains our indifference. —Seema Jilani august 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corrosif, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin corrōsīvus, from Latin corrōsus, past participle of corrōdere "to gnaw, corrode" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing corrosive

• corrosive sublimate

Rhymes for corrosive

• erosive
• explosive
• noncorrosive
• plosive

Kids Definition

corrosive

adjective

cor·​ro·​sive kə-ˈrō-siv 

-ziv

: tending or having the power to corrode

corrosive acids

corrosive noun

corrosively adverb

corrosiveness noun

Medical Definition

corrosive

1 of 2 adjective

cor·​ro·​sive -ˈrō-siv, -ziv 

: tending or having the power to corrode

corrosive acids

a corrosive gas

corrosiveness noun

corrosive

2 of 2 noun

: a substance that corrodes : caustic