corrosive

adjective

cor·​ro·​sive kə-ˈrō-siv How to pronounce corrosive (audio)
-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

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 There’s the potential costs to consider as well as the corrosive effect of waging elections without end. Mark Z. Barabak, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 That’s corrosive not only for the Gray Lady, but the public record at large. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Even short of that, serial amorality will prove politically corrosive: a country whose population has rallied to defend its values as well as its interests will not forever support a strategy that seems to cast those values aside. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Carbohydrates, unlike chloride, are not corrosive to steel, and can act as a corrosion inhibitor for salt brines. Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2024 The public’s investment in public financing is not for the sake of helping a particular candidate win, but to root out the corrosive influence of money in politics and to bring integrity to a system that desperately needs it. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2024 What is a man without the harmful, corrosive effects of the patriarchy that imprisons us all? Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2024 On Wednesday, the police responded to an alert that a corrosive substance had been thrown at a 31-year-old woman and her two daughters — ages 3 and 8 — at Lessar Avenue in the London borough of Lambeth at about 7:25 p.m. local time, the police said in a release posted online. Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 1 Feb. 2024 Distrust is insidious and corrosive to democracy and society. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'corrosive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of corrosive was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near corrosive

Cite this Entry

“Corrosive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corrosive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

corrosive

adjective
cor·​ro·​sive kə-ˈrō-siv How to pronounce corrosive (audio)
-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 How to pronounce corrosive (audio)
: tending or having the power to corrode
corrosive acids
a corrosive gas
corrosiveness noun

corrosive

2 of 2 noun
: a substance that corrodes : caustic

More from Merriam-Webster on corrosive

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