mordant
6 synonyms for mordant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Sharply critical or biting in tone.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Came into English from French mordant, from Latin mordeō. It is a doublet of mordent.
Full origin of mordant →