corrosive

adjective

cor·​ro·​sive kə-ˈrō-siv 

-ziv

1

: tending or having the power to corrode

corrosive acids

corrosive action

the corrosive effects of alcoholism

2

: bitingly sarcastic

corrosive satire

corrosive noun

corrosively adverb

corrosiveness noun

Synonyms

• acerb
• acerbic
• acid
• acidic
• acidulous
• acrid
• barbed
• biting
• caustic
• cutting
• mordant
• pungent
• sarcastic
• sardonic
• satiric
• satirical
• scalding
• scathing
• sharp
• smart-aleck
• smart-alecky
• smart-mouthed
• snarky
• tart

Examples of corrosive in a Sentence

She argues that racism is dangerous and corrosive to society.

a corrosive satire on the fashion industry and its movers and shakers

Recent Examples on the Web

Rick Steves: The guidebook writer and TV personality reflected on his cancer diagnosis, social media’s corrosive effect on tourism and the transformative power of travel. —David Marchese, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025

Saltwater can be corrosive to firefighting equipment and cause damage to tools, such as tanks, hydrants and hoses, according to Technology.org. —George Petras, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2025

Freshwater, whenever possible, is preferred because salt content is corrosive and can damage equipment like hoses and pumps. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025

Invoking the German philosopher Oswald Spengler’s The Decline of the West, Kaplan laments the corrosive forces of liberal modernity, which erode the stabilizing functions of the ancien régime and in the name of progress threaten to make the world a waste land. —Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English corrosif, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin corrōsīvus, from Latin corrōsus, past participle of corrōdere "to gnaw, corrode" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing corrosive

• corrosive sublimate

Kids Definition

corrosive

adjective

cor·​ro·​sive kə-ˈrō-siv 

-ziv

: tending or having the power to corrode

corrosive acids

corrosive noun

corrosively adverb

corrosiveness noun

Medical Definition

corrosive

1 of 2 adjective

cor·​ro·​sive -ˈrō-siv, -ziv 

: tending or having the power to corrode

corrosive acids

a corrosive gas

corrosiveness noun

corrosive

2 of 2 noun

: a substance that corrodes : caustic