Synonyms of caustic

caustic

adjective

ˈkȯ-stik 

as in sarcastic

marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings

caustic movie reviews that serve mainly to show how clever the reviewer is

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sarcastic
• satirical
• satiric
• acidic
• acid
• barbed
• corrosive
• acerbic
• sardonic
• biting
• acrid
• scathing
• pungent
• mordant
• acidulous
• cynical
• sharp
• ironical
• tart
• ironic
• cutting
• snarky
• harsh
• scalding
• smart-aleck
• acerb
• smart-alecky
• sour
• smart-mouthed
• blunt
• incisive
• dry
• concise
• spiky
• trenchant
• poignant
• wry
• flippant
• cross
• severe
• vitriolic
• brisk
• acrimonious
• facetious
• sharp-tongued
• bitter
• gruff
• abrupt
• sourish
• spikey
• resentful
• brusque
• pithy
• stringent
• curt
• keen
• tongue-in-cheek
• succinct
• tartish
• terse
• insincere
• crisp
• snippy
• rough
• backhanded
• brusk
• snippety

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective caustic contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of caustic are acrid, mordant, and scathing. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

When is acrid a more appropriate choice than caustic?

While the synonyms acrid and caustic are close in meaning, acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

In what contexts can mordant take the place of caustic?

In some situations, the words mordant and caustic are roughly equivalent. However, mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

When might scathing be a better fit than caustic?

Although the words scathing and caustic have much in common, scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of caustic

Though the subject matter can be heavy at times, make no mistake—Some Hope still bubbles with Aubyn’s caustic wit. —Literary Hub, 10 June 2025

Some local officials have argued the deployment could aggravate an already caustic situation in downtown Los Angeles, and say state and local police agencies can handle the protests themselves. —Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 10 June 2025

Eleanor is played by Pippa Knowles with a playful, caustic vibrance that seizes the screen. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 June 2025

For Chicago and spanning to borders far beyond, there was media personality Gary Deeb as the caustic gatekeeper of all things TV, radio and media reporting about what and who to watch and when and where to listen. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025

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