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 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
• ˈcaustical, adjective
• ˈcaustically, adverb

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

A variety pack of interns attends him, striking poses from sweet to doubtful to caustic.

From Los Angeles Times

In order to regain her powers, Agatha sets out to walk the dangerous Witches’ Road and has to tamp down her caustic antisocial tendencies to assemble the coven she needs to accompany her.

From Los Angeles Times

But, she said, he “was caustic in retrospect.”

From New York Times

As an independent presidential candidate, Mr. Kennedy, 70, has leaned into his storied political lineage, his career in environmental law and his caustic anti-establishment beliefs that at times veer into conspiracy theory.

From New York Times

The freight train was carrying calcium carbide, a caustic, flammable chemical compound used in steel manufacturing, among other things.

From New York Times

Related Words

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