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

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 The result is a safer material that no longer carries the caustic nature of untreated red mud. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025 The Sweet Dove Died is more caustic than anything else Pym wrote. Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025 Likely less caustic is Bryan Washington’s Palaver, his third novel, about a gay man living in Japan whose mother appears in his life after a period of estrangement. Emma Alpern, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025 New research published Tuesday from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that the barrels with halos contain caustic alkaline waste — a highly corrosive material that has been leaking out of the barrels for decades. Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for caustic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for caustic
Adjective
  • The kicking game was so bad that Freeman sounded like Brian Kelly at his sarcastic best when asked about Noah Burnette, Erik Schmidt and Marcello Diomede combining to miss two extra points and one field goal.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Reactions to the freestyle depended on whether or not you were tuned into its sarcastic frequency.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Perhaps the biggest pop culture development regarding Cheney's life, however, came in 2018, when Adam McKay helmed the satirical biographical film Vice using inspiration from the political figure and those around him.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Girl Dinner is a satirical novel about a college sophomore, Nina, and professor, Sloane, who become involved with an infamous sorority known as The House.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Swap apple cider vinegar for red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or lemon juice for a different acidic punch.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
  • But in cheeses with a pH of 5 or lower (more acidic), no virus was found.
    Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The idea of dissolving the self in an acid bath of erotic imagery was not, in the end, so unappealing.
    Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Avoid an acid overload of tart and tangy (pickles and citrus), a bold flavor competition, sweet and funky flavors colliding (fruity jams and aged cheeses), and a clash of spicy meats and cheeses with delicate fruits and accompaniments.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • In the yard, decorations include nooses, hanging bodies, guards in towers and barbed wire fences.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The actress is clearly relishing the opportunity to deliver Aaron Sorkin’s barbed dialogue (though perhaps not as much as Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals the show as an explosive CIA functionary).
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Advertisement These voices from across the political spectrum are not wrong about the corrosive effects of political violence.
    Time, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
  • It also is widely utilized as a container lubricant for corrosive materials and even medical equipment like catheters.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Caustic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caustic. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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