Word a Day
caustic
What does caustic mean?
caustic (adjective): sharp, bitter, cutting, biting, and sarcastic in a scathing way.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where does caustic come from?
From the Latin causticus (“burning”), from Ancient Greek καυστικός (kaustikós, “burning”), from καυστός (kaustós, “burnt”) + -ικός (-ikós).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What are synonyms of caustic?
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “caustic”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “caustic” mean?
recurring in scattered and irregular or unpredictable instances
Not quite: that's what sporadic means.
difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight
Not quite: that's what cumbersome means.
tending to contribute to, encourage, or bring about some result
Not quite: that's what conducive means.
sharp, bitter, cutting, biting, and sarcastic in a scathing way
Right! That's what “caustic” means.
Which word is closest in meaning to “caustic”?
acid
Right!
arid
Not quite: arid means something else.
meek
Not quite: meek means something else.
smug
Not quite: smug means something else.
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