The meaning of Caustic

adjective

(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

Usage examples:

His acerbic wit

noun

A substance with particular chemical properties including turning litmus red, neutralizing alkalis, and dissolving some metals; typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid of this kind.

Usage examples:

Trees were exposed to mixtures of heavy metals, acids, and overdoses of nutrients

adjective

Containing acid or having the properties of an acid; having a ph of less than 7.

Usage examples:

Acid soils

noun

Any of various chemical substances that can produce salts, some of which are able to damage whatever they touch

Usage examples:

The salad dressing has an acid taste.

adjective

Unpleasantly bitter or pungent.

Usage examples:

Acrid smoke

adjective

Strong, bitter, and unpleasant

Usage examples:

The electrical fire sent thick clouds of acrid smoke through the office.

adjective

(typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.

Usage examples:

An acrimonious dispute about wages

adjective

Having the properties of an alkali, or containing alkali; having a ph greater than 7.

Usage examples:

An alkaline soil

noun

Relating to or containing an alkali

adjective

Causing the contraction of skin cells and other body tissues.

Usage examples:

An astringent skin lotion

noun

An astringent lotion applied to the skin to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions or as a cosmetic to make the skin less oily.

Usage examples:

Alcohol-based astringents and toners can make skin even drier.

adjective

An astringent substance causes the skin or other tissue to tighten

Usage examples:

An astringent cream, astringent criticism, her astringent wit, the astringent taste of the herbs fi…

adjective

(of insects and certain other animals) able to wound the skin with a sting or fangs.

Usage examples:

A cream to ward off biting insects

verb

(of a person or animal) use the teeth to cut into or through something.

Usage examples:

He bit off a piece of cheese

noun

A bite-sized piece of food; a small snack, appetizer, or canapé.

Usage examples:

The hotel bar serves cocktails and delicious bitings

adjective

Having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet.

Usage examples:

Raw berries have an intensely bitter flavour

noun

Beer that is strongly flavoured with hops and has a bitter taste, brewed by top fermentation.

Usage examples:

A pint of bitter

adjective

Having a slightly stinging, strong taste, not salty or sweet

Usage examples:

The coffee was bitter., losing the election was a bitter disappointment., she has no bitterness abo…

adjective

On fire.

Usage examples:

A burning building

verb

(of a fire) produce flames and heat while consuming a material such as coal or wood.

Usage examples:

A fire burned and crackled cheerfully in the grate

verb

Destroy or damage (metal, stone, or other materials) slowly by chemical action.

Usage examples:

Acid rain poisons fish and corrodes buildings

adjective

Tending to cause corrosion.

Usage examples:

The corrosive effects of salt water

noun

A corrosive substance.

Usage examples:

That is an enormous range of substances and, as has already been pointed out, it includes explosive…

adjective

A corrosive substance causes damage by chemical action

Usage examples:

A highly corrosive acid, the corrosive influence of racism

noun

The action of cutting something.

Usage examples:

The cutting of the cake

adjective

Capable of cutting something.

Usage examples:

The cutting blades of the hedge trimmer

verb

Make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp-edged tool or object.

Usage examples:

He cut his toe on a sharp stone

adjective

Expressing contempt or ridicule.

Usage examples:

He gave a harsh, derisive laugh

adjective

Showing derision

Usage examples:

Derisive laughter, a derisive comment/remark

adjective

Causing great and irreparable damage.

Usage examples:

The destructive power of weapons

adjective

Causing, or able to cause, damage

Usage examples:

Destructive power the destructive power of nuclear weapons, i worry about the destructive effect th…

adjective

Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses.

Usage examples:

Drenched in a harsh white neon light

adjective

Unkind or cruel or uncivil

adjective

Unkind or cruel

Usage examples:

Harsh criticism, a harsh winter, harsh lighting

adjective

Using or characterized by irony.

Usage examples:

His mouth curved into an ironic smile

adjective

(especially of humour) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting.

Usage examples:

A mordant sense of humour

noun

A substance, typically an inorganic oxide, that combines with a dye or stain and thereby fixes it in a material.

Usage examples:

In order to get the color to stick well on the fiber, the wool was usually pretreated with a metal …

verb

Impregnate or treat (a fabric) with a mordant.

Usage examples:

Mordanting a fibre is simple

adjective

Having a sharply strong taste or smell.

Usage examples:

The pungent smell of frying onions

adjective

(of a smell or taste) very strong, sometimes in an unpleasant way

Usage examples:

Pungent odors

adjective

Marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt.

Usage examples:

Making sarcastic comments

adjective

Using remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what you say, in order to hurt someone's feelings or to humorously criticize something

Usage examples:

A sarcastic comment/remark, are you being sarcastic?

adjective

Grimly mocking or cynical.

Usage examples:

Starkey attempted a sardonic smile

adjective

Witheringly scornful; severely critical.

Usage examples:

She launched a scathing attack on the prime minister

verb

Harm; injure.

Usage examples:

He was barely scathed

adjective

Severely critical and unkind

Usage examples:

He delivered a scathing attack on the president.

adjective

Feeling or expressing contempt or derision.

Usage examples:

The opposition were scornful of the prime minister's proposal

adjective

(of an object) having an edge or point that is able to cut or pierce something.

Usage examples:

Cut the cake with a very sharp knife

adverb

Precisely (used after an expression of time).

Usage examples:

The meeting starts at 7.30 sharp

noun

A musical note raised a semitone above natural pitch.

Usage examples:

Choices in successive levels expand to all notes, then sharps and flats.

adjective

Having a sting; capable of wounding or piercing with a sting.

Usage examples:

A swarm of stinging insects

verb

Wound or pierce with a sting.

Usage examples:

He was stung by a jellyfish

noun

An open pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling.

Usage examples:

An apple tart

verb

Dress or make oneself up in order to look attractive.

Usage examples:

I tarted myself up for the night

adjective

Sharp or acid in taste.

Usage examples:

A tart apple

adjective

Vigorous or incisive in expression or style.

Usage examples:

The white paper makes trenchant criticisms of health authorities

adjective

(of something said or written) forcefully and effectively expressed, and often in few words

Usage examples:

I enjoy reading murray’s trenchant comments on the relationship between sports and society.

adjective

Filled with bitter criticism or malice.

Usage examples:

Vitriolic attacks on the politicians