corrosive

/kəˈroʊsɪv/

Say it: kuh-ROH-siv

1. adjective Gradually damaging or destroying something through a chemical process.
The label warned that the cleaning fluid was highly corrosive and should not touch the skin.
2. adjective Harmful or destructive in a gradual, insidious way.
The constant stream of negative comments had a corrosive effect on her confidence.
3. noun A substance that causes corrosion.
The chemical spill involved a powerful corrosive that damaged the concrete floor.

📖 Seen in the wild

The highly corrosive acid quickly ate through the metal container.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ corrosive in a sentence

Salt spray from the ocean is corrosive to the paint on cars.
His corrosive cynicism began to wear on everyone in the office.
The investigation revealed a corrosive culture of corruption within the department.
You must wear protective gear when handling any corrosive material.
Gossip is a corrosive force that can destroy friendships.
The political polarization has had a corrosive effect on public discourse.
Over time, the battery acid became corrosive, eating through its metal casing.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

caustic biting vitriolic acerbic destructive damaging erosive insidious

caustic · implies a sharper, more immediate burning quality, often used for witty but cruel remarks.

biting · suggests a sharp, incisive, and often painfully accurate criticism.

vitriolic · describes extreme, venomous bitterness and hatred in speech or writing.

acerbic · refers to a sour, bitter, or sharp tone, especially in humor or commentary.

Opposites: constructive, healing, supportive, gentle, inert

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'corrosive' traces back to the Latin verb 'corrodere', which means 'to gnaw to pieces'. This vivid image of gnawing away at something perfectly captures both the literal sense of a chemical eating through metal and the figurative sense of a harmful influence slowly destroying morale or trust.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

corrosive substancecorrosive effectcorrosive influencecorrosive criticismhighly corrosive

While 'corrosive' has a literal, scientific meaning, its figurative use is very common and powerful. It implies a slow, creeping, and thorough form of damage, making it more evocative than simply 'harmful' or 'bad'. Use it to describe forces that undermine or weaken something from the inside out, like trust, unity, or confidence. The adjective form is far more common than the noun.

Word family: corrode, corrosion

💬 Quick answers

What does corrosive mean?

Corrosive describes something that eats away or destroys, either literally through a chemical action like acid on metal, or figuratively by gradually damaging something like trust, morale, or a relationship.

What is the difference between corrosive and caustic?

While both mean damaging, 'corrosive' often implies a slow, gradual decay. 'Caustic' suggests a more immediate, sharp, and burning kind of damage, especially when used figuratively to describe witty but cruel remarks.

Can a person's attitude be corrosive?

Yes, a person's attitude, influence, or words can be described as corrosive. This means they have a harmful, undermining effect on a group's spirit or an individual's wellbeing.

1 word nerd collected it V

Want "corrosive" to actually stick?

Save it to your own vault, let AI explain it, practice till it's yours.

Start for free →