adj

caustic

KAWS-tihk

adj

Capable of burning or chemically eating away living tissue or other material.

"Caustic soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin."

Harshly sarcastic or biting in tone.

"His caustic wit made him a feared critic."

"She responded with a caustic remark that silenced the room."

How to Use Caustic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither literally corrosive (a chemical) or figuratively cutting and sarcastic (a remark or person).

Common pairings

caustic soda caustic humor caustic remark

more caustic comparative, caustics plural, most caustic superlative

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_____ soda can cause severe burns if it touches skin.

From Latin causticus, from Greek kaustikos, "burning," from kaustos, "burnt."

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