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

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

“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.”

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Los Angeles Times

Thewlis, who has the ranginess and sharp profile one associates with the character, is a fine Holmes, caustic with a comic edge, and Hunt holds her own as his problematic partner.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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