caustic

American  

[kaw-stik] / ˈkɔ stɪk /

adjective

1. capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue.

2. severely critical or sarcastic.

   a caustic remark.

   Synonyms:

   acid, scathing, bitter, mordant, biting

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noun

1. a caustic substance.

2. Optics.

   1. caustic curve.

   2. caustic surface.

caustic British  

/ ˈkɔːstɪk, kɔːˈstɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. capable of burning or corroding by chemical action

   caustic soda

2. sarcastic; cutting

   a caustic reply

3. of, relating to, or denoting light that is reflected or refracted by a curved surface

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noun

1. Also called: caustic surface.  a surface that envelops the light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface

2. Also called: caustic curve.  a curve formed by the intersection of a caustic surface with a plane

3. chem a caustic substance, esp an alkali

Other Word Forms

• caustical adjective
• caustically adverb
• causticity noun
• causticly adverb
• causticness noun
• noncaustic adjective
• noncaustically adverb
• overcaustic adjective
• overcaustically adverb
• overcausticity noun
• uncaustic adjective
• uncaustically adverb

Etymology

Origin of caustic

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin causticus < Greek kaustikós burning, caustic, equivalent to kaust ( ós ) burnt (verbal adjective of kaíein to burn) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Over the past 14 years, Warsh has been a consistent critic of the Fed, often in caustic terms.

From MarketWatch

Over the past 14 years, Warsh has been a consistent critic of the Fed, often in caustic terms.

From MarketWatch

Though she is not a satirist, her gimlet-eyed prose conveys a caustic humor that feels more British than American.

From The Wall Street Journal

Several people who have spoken with Warsh said they have been taken aback by what they view as the caustic nature of his criticisms of Fed leaders.

From The Wall Street Journal

Several people who have spoken with Warsh have been taken aback at the caustic nature of his criticisms of Fed leaders.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acerbic
• bitter
• harsh
• incisive
• pithy
• pungent
• satiric
• scathing
• sharp
• stinging
• trenchant