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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of caustic
Drawing from much more than the caustic hardcore the group have made their name on, Man Bites Dog throws jock jams, late-aughts electro-pop, and industrial into a huge Margaritaville-sized blender.
—
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
But, in another sign of how the political realities around immigration have shifted in the past year, that vote drew a caustic statement from one of her Democratic primary opponents in the 8th District, Evan Munsing.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
There was always a caustic quality to Minna and Flic’s demeanor, but true cruelty seeps into their interactions in a way that’s ultimately heartbreaking.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
So begins their comic, sometimes caustic, friendship.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caustic
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
But, in another sign of how the political realities around immigration have shifted in the past year, that vote drew a caustic statement from one of her Democratic primary opponents in the 8th District, Evan Munsing.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
There was always a caustic quality to Minna and Flic’s demeanor, but true cruelty seeps into their interactions in a way that’s ultimately heartbreaking.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2026
So begins their comic, sometimes caustic, friendship.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for caustic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caustic
Adjective
-
But pull her away from the TV cameras, photographers and the prying eyes of the world, and her sarcastic-bordering-on-vulgar sense of humor bubbles to the surface.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Liu asked with a sarcastic scoff and giggle.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Our approaches can be critical, satirical, comical, dramatic, poetic, but will always be complex and complicated.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The book is a satirical story about a fictional reality TV show called Model Muse that was inspired by his experience on ANTM.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The acidic solution is placed in the base and water reservoir of the unplugged dehumidifier, and allowed to sit for up to 60 minutes to dissolve the mineral buildup.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes compost becomes too acidic during decomposition, Ivanov says—fireplace ash helps neutralize this acidity.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
An arrest has been made in an acid attack on a Long Island college student that happened nearly five years ago.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
As wine lovers’ taste in Chardonnay has moved from ripe and buttery to lean and racy, higher-acid, more-flavorful versions have come into vogue.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
My parents were just children when they were wrested from their homes into tarpaper barracks surrounded by barbed wire.—
Julie Morita,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
During the First World War, neither Axis nor Allied generals fully appreciated the devastating effects of machine guns and barbed wire.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
What’s more, the gut’s corrosive, enzyme-rich environment can foul sensors in multiple ways, interfering with measurements and adding noise to the data.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Operating with full autonomy, the system eliminates the need for personnel in high-risk zones, shielding soldiers from toxic chemicals, corrosive oils, and blistering thermal conditions.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Caustic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caustic. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
