¹caustic

adjective caus·tic \ˈkȯs-tik\

: able to destroy or burn something by chemical action

: very harsh and critical

Full Definition of CAUSTIC

: capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action : corrosive

: marked by incisive sarcasm

: relating to or being the surface or curve of a caustic

— caus·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— caus·tic·i·ty \kȯ-ˈsti-sə-tē\ noun

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Examples of CAUSTIC

His [Roosevelt's] caustic cousin, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, called him a sissy and a mama's boy. —Garry Wills, Atlantic, April 1994
It was Schuyler's gift for satire and his caustic wit that distinguished his writings and led to his nickname, the Black Mencken. —Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New York Times Book Review, 20 Sept. 1992
Albert quailed before those caustic pronouncements, he shuddered and blanched and felt his stomach drop like a croquette into a vat of hot grease. —T. Coraghessan Boyle, Harper's, October 1987
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Origin of CAUSTIC

Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaiein to burn

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CAUSTIC

Synonyms: acerb, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulous, acrid, barbed, biting, sarcastic, corrosive, cutting, mordant, pungent, sardonic, satiric (or satirical), scalding, scathing, sharp, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, smart-mouthed, snarky, tart

Synonym Discussion of CAUSTIC

caustic, mordant, acrid, scathing mean stingingly incisive. caustic suggests a biting wit <caustic comments>. mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness <mordant reviews of the play>. acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence <acrid invective>. scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity <a scathing satire>.