mordacious

adjective

mor·​da·​cious
(ˈ)mȯ(r)¦dāshəs
1
: biting or given to biting
bitten in as with mordacious acidTimes Literary Supplement
2
: biting or sharp in manner or style : caustic
the lady's mordacious look showed plainly that she hated us allPauline R. Fadiman
mordaciously adverb

Word History

Etymology

Latin mordac-, mordax biting, given to biting (from mordēre to bite) + English -ious

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near mordacious

Cite this Entry

“Mordacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mordacious. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on mordacious

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!