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
Whereas Videodrome could once reductively be described as a cautionary tale about the corrosive influence of television, its anxieties have only grown more trenchant.
—
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Both teachers said the effects of AI are more corrosive on younger students who don't have the foundations of knowledge that college and graduate students do.
—Ivana Saric, Axios, 30 Mar. 2025
At sea, there is plenty of wind, wave and solar energy, but building renewable-energy systems that can survive the weather and corrosive seawater is difficult and costly.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Officials are focused on curbing the use of salt, while continuing to explore other affordable alternatives, like beet juice — which lessens salt’s corrosive qualities when mixed with brine — and sand, which does not melt ice but provides traction.
—Hilary Howard, New York Times, 25 Mar. 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.
A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Both teachers said the effects of AI are more corrosive on younger students who don't have the foundations of knowledge that college and graduate students do.
—Ivana Saric, Axios, 30 Mar. 2025
At sea, there is plenty of wind, wave and solar energy, but building renewable-energy systems that can survive the weather and corrosive seawater is difficult and costly.
—Ian Urbina, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Officials are focused on curbing the use of salt, while continuing to explore other affordable alternatives, like beet juice — which lessens salt’s corrosive qualities when mixed with brine — and sand, which does not melt ice but provides traction.
—Hilary Howard, New York Times, 25 Mar. 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 19 May. 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