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The etymology of mordant certainly has some bite to it. That word, which came to modern English through Middle French, ultimately derives from the Latin verb mordēre, which means "to bite." In modern parlance, mordant usually suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness. Mordēre puts the bite into other English terms, too. For instance, that root gave us the tasty morsel ("a tiny bite"). But nibble too many of those and you'll likely be hit by another mordēre derivative: remorse ("guilt for past wrongs"), which comes from Latin remordēre, meaning "to bite again."
Examples of mordant in a Sentence
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
The goofy charm that Bridges brings to the prior films is greatly lacking here, replaced with mordant self-seriousness.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Oct. 2025
Learn about natural dying, fabric prep and mordants (the chemicals that help dyes adhere to fabrics), and dye a Habotai silk scarf or mulberry silk pillowcase with all natural dye materials.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Mordant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mordant. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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mordant
noun
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