caustic

[kaw-stik]

adjective

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

2. severely critical or sarcastic.

   a caustic remark.

   Synonyms: acid, scathing, bitter, mordant, biting

noun

1. a caustic substance.

2. Optics.

   1. caustic curve.

   2. caustic surface.

caustic

/ 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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of caustic¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of caustic¹

C14: from Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, from kaiein to burn

Example Sentences

The policy “represents one of the most caustic, corrosive and chilling efforts to squelch the voice of this commission, the office of inspector general and the Sybil Brand Commission,” Johnson said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’ve got to look at the results,” Hutson said, “and despite his caustic attitude and behavior, I think he’s done a really, really good job.”

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The Company rakes her over the coals, demotes her, and doesn’t believe her report about an alien creature that has a razor-sharp tail, knife-like teeth and highly caustic acid for blood.

Read more on Salon

But it’s not just time and distance that have made Marnie’s selfishness feel less caustic; it’s the fact that she was merely Dunham’s conduit to track where culture was headed.

Read more on Salon

With Franzen-esque fastidiousness, Choi unpacks each character’s backstory, exposing vanities and delusions in a cool, caustic voice, a 21st century Émile Zola.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acerbic 
• bitter 
• harsh 
• incisive 
• pithy 
• pungent 
• satiric www.thesaurus.com
• scathing 
• sharp 
• stinging www.thesaurus.com
• trenchant