Synonyms for caustic
ˈkɔ stɪkcaus·tic

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:4.5 / 2 votes

1. causticadjective

   Synonyms:
   acidic, mordacious, bitchy, burning, biting, sharp, nasty, corrosive, catty, spiteful, searing

2. causticadjective

   Capable of burning, corroding or destroying organic tissue

   Synonyms:
   biting, spiteful, catty, acidic, burning, sharp, searing, mordacious, nasty, bitchy, corrosive

3. causticnoun

   The envelope of reflected or refracted rays of light for a given surface or object.

   Synonyms:
   bitchy, acidic, searing, corrosive, spiteful, burning, nasty, catty, mordacious, biting, sharp

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. caustic

   Acid, sour, and bitter agree in being contrasted with sweet, but the two former are sharply distinguished from the latter. Acid or sour is the taste of vinegar or lemon-juice; bitter that of quassia, quinine, or strychnine. Acrid is nearly allied to bitter. Pungent suggests the effect of pepper or snuff on the organs of taste or smell; as, a pungent odor. Caustic indicates the corroding effect of some strong chemical, as nitrate of silver. In a figurative sense, as applied to language or character, these words are very closely allied. We say a sour face, sharp words, bitter complaints, caustic wit, cutting irony, biting sarcasm, a stinging taunt, harsh judgment, a tart reply. Harsh carries the idea of intentional and severe unkindness, bitter of a severity that arises from real or supposed ill treatment. The bitter speech springs from the sore heart. Tart and sharp utterances may not proceed from an intention to wound, but merely from a wit recklessly keen; cutting, stinging, and biting speech indicates more or less of hostile intent, the latter being the more deeply malicious. The caustic utterance is meant to burn, perhaps wholesomely, as in the satire of Juvenal or Cervantes. Compare MOROSE.

   Synonyms:
   acerb, acetous, acid, acidulated, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, biting, bitter, cutting, harsh, irate, pungent, savage, sharp, sour, stinging, tart, vinegarish, virulent

   Antonyms:
   dulcet, honeyed, luscious, nectared, saccharine, sweet

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. caustic

   Synonyms:
   burning, mordant, pungent, irritating, biting, pointed, sarcastic, trenchant, severe

   Antonyms:
   pointless, mild, soothing, conciliating, vapid, flat, tame

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. causticadjective

   any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, constructive

2. acerb, acerbic, acid, acrid, bitter, blistering, caustic, sulfurous, sulphurous, virulent, vitriolicadjective

   harsh or corrosive in tone

   "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation"; "a vitriolic critique"

   Synonyms:
   virulent, blistering, red-hot, vitriolic, hot, blistery, acerbic, stifling, sulphurous, acidic, acrimonious, mordant, acidulous, venomous, astringent, sulfurous, acrid, deadly, acid, corrosive, pungent, biting, bitter, sultry, acidulent, acerb, erosive

   Antonyms:
   constructive, pleasant

3. caustic, corrosive, erosive, vitriolic, mordantadjective

   of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

   Synonyms:
   acrid, mordant, blistering, sulphurous, sulfurous, grim, corrosive, acid, erosive, bitter, virulent, acerbic, vitriolic, black, acerb

   Antonyms:
   pleasant, constructive

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. causticnoun

   Synonyms:
   CATHERETIC

2. causticadjective

   Synonyms:
   corrosive, corroding, CATHERETIC, consuming, acrid, virulent, eating away

3. causticadjective

   Synonyms:
   severe, sarcastic, satirical, bitter, stinging, sharp, cutting

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. causticadjective

   Synonyms:
   burning, virulent, acrid, catheretic, mordacious, cutting, satirical

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "caustic":

   abrasive

Suggested Resources

1. caustic

   Song lyrics by caustic -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by caustic on the Lyrics.com website.

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How to use caustic in a sentence?

1. Lori Prentice:

   There is a strong probability that someone who finally found the courage to contact the suicide hotline couldn’t get through due to Jarrar’s caustic misdirection.

2. Anthony Trollope:

   The satirist who writes nothing but satire should write but little -- or it will seem that his satire springs rather from his own caustic nature than from the sins of the world in which he lives.

3. Joe Henderson:

   Who is your all time favorite television character and why? "Scrooge McDuck. A greedy, caustic duck who does what he wants and doesn't listen to anyone, followed around by three young nephews who are always getting into trouble? Clearly, the inspiration for House MD. Also, the guy freaking swam in money. Literally.

4. Micheal Austin:

   It is also the first electric vehicle with an entirely environmentally stable and inert battery chemistry, there are no heavy metals or caustic materials used in the manufacturing of the BYD iron-phosphate battery.

5. Robert Morrow:

   I put out caustic and inflammatory tweets because I am trying to educate people.