causticity
Acid-like burning quality
Causticity is the quality of being caustic—corrosive or burning in the chemical sense, or bitingly sarcastic in the figurative.
A substance's causticity determines how severely it damages organic tissue.
Applied to speech or writing, causticity describes a harsh, cutting quality: The causticity of her remarks left him speechless.
Harshly critical or cold
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- acerbicSharp and biting
- sardonicGrimly mocking
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
sharp · harsh · withering · mordant · trenchant · stinging · barbed · vitriolic
Below neutral pH
- alkalineHaving high pH
- reactiveTending to respond
- pHMeasure of solution acidity
- sulfuricOf a strong acid
nitric · hydrochloric · lye · sodium hydroxide · etching · dissolution · oxidation · erosion
Mockery exposing vice
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
lampoon · parody · snark · quip · repartee · criticism · commentary · Oscar Wilde
Combustion in progress
- scaldingExtremely hot, burning
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
- searingBrowning with intense heat
- inflammationProtective tissue response
irritation · tissue damage · chemical burn · necrosis · ulceration · exposure · contact · splash
Harmful, especially when inhaled
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- poisonousCapable of causing death
- harmfulCausing damage or injury
- dangerousApt to cause harm
lethal · venomous · contaminating · polluting · pernicious · deleterious · baneful · injurious
biting
Harshly critical or cold
cutting · sharp · harsh · withering · mordant · trenchant · stinging · barbed · vitriolic · incisive
acidic
Below neutral pH
sulfuric · nitric · hydrochloric · lye · sodium hydroxide · etching · dissolution · oxidation · erosion · pitting
satire
Mockery exposing vice
ridicule · lampoon · parody · snark · quip · repartee · criticism · commentary · Oscar Wilde · Dorothy Parker
burning
Combustion in progress
- scaldingExtremely hot, burning
- blisteringExtremely intense or severe
- searingBrowning with intense heat
inflammation · irritation · tissue damage · chemical burn · necrosis · ulceration · exposure · contact · splash · fumes
noxious
Harmful, especially when inhaled
dangerous · lethal · venomous · contaminating · polluting · pernicious · deleterious · baneful · injurious · destructive
causticityinertness
State of non-reactivity
neutrality · mildness · blandness · harmlessness · gentleness
causticitygentleness
Soft, kind demeanor
kindness · mildness · tenderness · sweetness · affection
caustic, acidity, corrosive, cauterize, caustically, cautery, encaustic