caustic remark
1
7.2
- noun
- /ˈkɔːstɪk rɪˈmɑrk/
- Offensive
:
comentario hiriente
- During the meeting, her caustic remark about his project left everyone in stunned silence.
- make caustic remarks
Examples
-
The men on the patches were making caustic remarks about it.
Fiction book (1996) -
When Obama made his caustic remark about bayonets.
Blog text (33) -
She rode back to the city with us in our taxi, making caustic remarks all the way; I really didn't blame her.
Academic text (1990) -
The silences were worse, for Oswald might be eavesdropping, ready to inject caustic remarks, then fading away before ripostes could hit home.
Fiction book (1999) -
But it was precisely this unveiling of family secrets, along with some caustic remarks about famous acquaintances, living and dead, that struck many of Carlyle's contemporaries as unseemly.
Academic text (2001) -
His caustic remark about the politician's speech was sharp and left a lasting impression on the audience.
-
After hearing her friend's caustic remark, he realized she was being sarcastic rather than supportive.
Synonyms
34
6.3
An insulting remark meant to hurt someone
19
8.1
A short clever remark that surprises and amuses people
18
8.6
A clever mocking remark that often sounds rude
14
6.4
A short sharp remark meant to hurt or criticize someone
6
7.9
An insulting remark meant to hurt someone
4
3.5
A rude remark that hurts or upsets someone
3
5.6
A remark said to insult someone and show you do not respect them
2
7.4
A short mocking remark meant to hurt or annoy someone
1
9.3
A sharp insulting remark about someone or their actions
1
3.2
A rude comment meant to hurt someone or show no respect
1
7.4
A mean comment that aims to hurt someone
1
6.3
A short sharp comment that sounds rude
A very harsh and angry comment meant to hurt someone
A short sharp comment that criticizes someone in a hurtful or sarcastic way
A sharp, slightly bitter comment that can hurt feelings
A sharp remark that hurts or shocks people
A sharp, clear comment that shows deep understanding and criticizes
A rude remark that criticizes or insults someone
A remark that is harsh and meant to hurt someone's feelings
A mean remark that hurts or criticizes someone
Antonyms
How Caustic
- Offensive
- Offensive
1
7.2
- Offensive
512
3.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a sharply critical or sarcastic comment' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'caustic' (sharply sarcastic or scathing) with 'remark' (a comment). This adjective + noun composition follows standard English semantics and is cross-linguistically paralleled, so a learner who knows both constituent words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase caustic remark comes from the word caustic, once used for strong chemicals that 'burn' or 'eat away' the skin. A caustic remark is like those chemicals but with words: it 'burns' or hurts someone, so it means a very sharp, mocking, or hurtful comment.