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
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
Stopping and starting hundreds of times daily, and exposure to corrosive waste put immense strain on mechanical systems such as brakes, hydraulics, and transmissions.
—
Ganes Kesari, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
After more than a century beneath the surface, the wreck has suffered devastating damage from corrosive saltwater and metal-eating bacteria, and is now deteriorating at an alarming rate.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
The year-and-a-half-long dive into over a decade of multifaceted accusations against Diddy has not had that same corrosive effect on the reach of the mogul’s music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 July 2025
The Amys offer advice for advocating for yourself without setting off alarm bells, shifting from tactical execution to strategic thinking, and confronting behavior that’s corrosive but hard to pin down.
—Harvard Business Review, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for corrosive
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.
Ganes Kesari, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
After more than a century beneath the surface, the wreck has suffered devastating damage from corrosive saltwater and metal-eating bacteria, and is now deteriorating at an alarming rate.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
The year-and-a-half-long dive into over a decade of multifaceted accusations against Diddy has not had that same corrosive effect on the reach of the mogul’s music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 July 2025
The Amys offer advice for advocating for yourself without setting off alarm bells, shifting from tactical execution to strategic thinking, and confronting behavior that’s corrosive but hard to pin down.
—Harvard Business Review, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for corrosive
Cite this Entry
“Corrosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corrosive. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share