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

/ kɔːˈstɪsɪtɪ; ˈkɔːstɪk /

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 calledcaustic surface a surface that envelops the light rays reflected or refracted by a curved surface
2. Also calledcaustic curve a curve formed by the intersection of a caustic surface with a plane
3. chem a caustic substance, esp an alkali

Derived Forms

• causticity, noun
• ˈcaustically, adverb
• ˈcaustical, adjective

Other Words From

• causti·cal·ly caustic·ly adverb
• caus·tic·i·ty [kaw-, stis, -i-tee], caustic·ness noun
• non·caustic adjective
• non·causti·cal·ly adverb
• over·caustic adjective
• over·causti·cal·ly adverb
• over·caus·tici·ty noun
• un·caustic adjective
• un·causti·cal·ly adverb

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

These are endeavors one would be unlikely to attempt without a space to screw things up or spill caustic liquids or explode an engine or two without ruining your carpet.

From Outside Online

Like many of the project’s most caustic tracks, it’s almost certainly about Jonas, who really just continues to be a disappointment.

From Washington Post

On state media, the usual array of caustic language were on full display.

From Quartz

Running the gamut from unpacking the shame she felt growing up as the daughter of Korean immigrants to deconstructing her identification with the uncomfortable, caustic comedy of Richard Pryor, Hong’s essays are at once candid, complex and gutting.

From Time

The caustic electrolyte in conventional zinc-air batteries can also degrade the cathode and anode.

From Science News

Why do you think that until know you have been cast as the caustic wife in other pieces?

From The Daily Beast

Her father left his entire £2 million fortune to his brother, explaining his decision in a caustic rider to his will.

From The Daily Beast

When his companion reacts to his confession with a caustic joke, he says, confused, “So it makes a difference does it?”

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps the most caustic anti-Republican riff came from Al Gore.

From The Daily Beast

And she does it all with caustic wit and some less-than-charming winking.

From The Daily Beast

Amorphous urates are readily soluble in caustic soda solutions.

From Project Gutenberg

Crystals of calcium oxalate are insoluble in acetic acid or caustic soda.

From Project Gutenberg

This I attribute to the potash being in a little more caustic condition than when recrystallised with iodine.

From Project Gutenberg

Page after page—full of caustic satire, humorous sally and profound epigram—fairly bristles with merriment.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Stanley replied in a speech of caustic severity, which the agitators of Ireland have never forgotten or forgiven.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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