any chemical substance that burns or destroys living tissue

harsh or corrosive in tone; an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose; a barrage of acid comments; her acrid remarks make her many enemies; bitter words; blistering criticism; caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics; a sulfurous denunciation; a vitriolic critique

[ Syn: acerb , acerbic , acid , acrid , bitter , blistering , sulfurous , sulphurous , virulent , vitriolic ]

of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

[ Syn: corrosive , erosive , vitriolic , mordant ]