corrosive

American  

[kuh-roh-siv] / kəˈroʊ sɪv /

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.

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noun

1. something corrosive, as an acid or drug.

corrosive British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of corrosive

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

He would become a pre-eminent scholar of disasters and spend the rest of his long career illuminating the corrosive, collective traumas left in their wake.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jealousy is often corrosive but Mr. Smee makes clear that it can also fuel ambition, experimentation and creativity.

From The Wall Street Journal

While it won’t kill you like some other vices, trying to quit this spiritually corrosive habit cold turkey is inadvisable.

From Salon

Cook is the face of the campaign in a jewel-toned coat, which through an intentional corrosive treatment looks both worn-in and made to stand out.

From Los Angeles Times

“But when universities do the same thing by trying to weasel out of their contracts, it’s equally corrosive.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• acerbic
• caustic
• destructive
• incisive
• trenchant