corrosive

[ kuh-roh-siv ]
/ kəˈroʊ sɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR corrosive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

having the quality of corroding or eating away; erosive.
harmful or destructive; deleterious: the corrosive effect of poverty on their marriage.
sharply sarcastic; caustic: corrosive comments on the speaker's integrity.

noun

something corrosive, as an acid or drug.

Origin of corrosive

1350–1400; late Middle English (< Middle French) < Medieval Latin corrōsīvus, equivalent to Latin corrōs(us) (see corrosion) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English corosif < Middle French < Latin as above

OTHER WORDS FROM corrosive

Words nearby corrosive

corroboration, corroboree, corrode, corrody, corrosion, corrosive, corrosive sublimate, corrugate, corrugated iron, corrugated paper, corrugation

Words related to corrosiveness

acrimony, causticity, corrosive, mordacity, mordancy, trenchancy, corrosivity, erosivity

Example sentences from the Web for corrosiveness

  • And quantity of quality is exactly the thing that cannot brook the corrosiveness of powerful stimulants.

    The Joyful Heart |Robert Haven Schauffler

  • Was he not strong enough to defy the corrosiveness of a mean, vulgar atmosphere?

    Cleo The Magnificent |Louis Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for corrosiveness

corrosive
/ (kəˈrəʊsɪv) /

adjective

(esp of acids or alkalis) capable of destroying solid materials
tending to eat away or consume
cutting; sarcastic a corrosive remark

noun

a corrosive substance, such as a strong acid or alkali

Derived forms of corrosive

corrosively, adverb corrosiveness, noun

Medical definitions for corrosiveness

corrosive
[ kə-rō′sĭv ]

adj.

Causing or tending to cause the gradual destruction of a substance by chemical action.

n.

A substance having the capability or tendency to cause slow destruction.