Word: caustic (adjective)

Associations

The word "caustic" often describes something that can burn or corrode, like a chemical. It also means very sharp or biting in speech or writing, like sarcastic or harsh comments.

• In chemistry: "The caustic substance burned the metal." Here, it means corrosive.
• In language: "Her caustic remarks hurt his feelings." Here, it means sharply critical or sarcastic.
• In humor: "He has a caustic sense of humor." This means his humor is biting or cutting. Synonym: "sarcastic" is often similar to "caustic" in speech, but "caustic" is stronger and more biting, sometimes more hurtful.

Substitution

Instead of "caustic," you can say:

• corrosive (for chemicals)
• biting, sharp, cutting, scathing (for speech or writing)
• sarcastic (but usually less harsh than caustic) Changing the word changes the tone. For example, "biting" is less severe than "caustic" in speech.

Deconstruction

"Caustic" comes from the Greek word "kaustikos," meaning "able to burn." The root "caust-" relates to burning or heat. It has no prefix or suffix here; it is an adjective describing something that can burn or "burn" in a figurative sense (like words).

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone said something caustic to you or others? How did it feel?
• What other words would you use if you wanted to be less harsh than "caustic"?
• How does the meaning change when "caustic" describes a chemical versus a comment?