corrosive

[kuh-roh-siv]

adjective

1. having the quality of corroding or eating away; erosive.

2. harmful or destructive; deleterious.

   the corrosive effect of poverty on their marriage.

3. sharply sarcastic; caustic.

   corrosive comments on the speaker's integrity.

noun

1. something corrosive, as an acid or drug.

corrosive

/ kəˈrəʊsɪv /

adjective

1. (esp of acids or alkalis) capable of destroying solid materials

2. tending to eat away or consume

3. cutting; sarcastic

   a corrosive remark

noun

1. a corrosive substance, such as a strong acid or alkali

Other Word Forms

• corrosively adverb
• corrosiveness noun
• corrosivity noun
• noncorrosive adjective
• noncorrosively adverb
• noncorrosiveness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of corrosive¹

1350–1400; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Medieval Latin corrōsīvus, equivalent to Latin corrōs ( us ) ( corrosion ) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English corosif < Middle French < Latin as above

Example Sentences

Rather remained adamant, even through reputational degradation, that the real threat to journalism wasn’t liberal bias or declining ratings, but the corrosive takeover of the fourth estate by corporate and ideological power.

From Salon

She says professionals need to undergo specialist domestic abuse training to truly understand the corrosive nature of coercive control and the experiences of survivors.

From BBC

There were also a plethora of household items that contained corrosive acids and toxic ingredients that needed to be collected to prevent them from polluting soil and groundwater.

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Los Angeles Times

Veiel’s inquiry becomes a time capsule from the 20th century with creepy echoes in our current era of corrosive dissembling.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acerbic 
• caustic 
• destructive 
• incisive 
• trenchant