Both Uses
caustic
in
Into Thin Air
(Edited)
- Gregarious by nature, Hall proved to be a skillful raconteur with a caustic Kiwi wit.
Chpt 3 *caustic = sarcastic
- This morning, gasping lungfuls of caustic, snow-filled air, he had apparently frozen his larynx.
Chpt 9 *caustic = harsh or damaging
Definitions:
-
(1)
(caustic as in: a caustic chemical) damaging or harsh -- often of a corrosive chemical like a strong acid
-
(2)
(caustic as in: a caustic person) sarcastic, critical, or harsh
- (3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)