caustic
burning or sharply critical
Root
- caust / cauter: burn or burning
Other words with the caust / cauter root
- cauterize: to burn tissue with heat or a chemical
Caustic criticism burns: the word moves from literal burning power to a remark that corrodes.
His caustic reply ended the meeting but did not solve the problem.
Caustic belongs to burning before it becomes a personality word. A caustic chemical can burn or corrode; caustic speech leaves a similar sting.