mordant
UK: ˈmɔːd(ə)nt | US: ˈmɔːrd(ə)nt
adj. bitingly sarcastic or caustic
adj. (of a substance) corrosive or sharply pungent
n. a substance used to fix dyes in textiles
The word traces back to Latin mordēre, which vividly conveys the idea of biting or gnawing—a metaphor extended to describe both physical corrosion (e.g., acids) and verbal sharpness (e.g., sarcasm). The suffix -ant stabilizes it as an adjective, preserving its edge across contexts, from chemistry to critique.
Her mordant wit left the audience both laughing and uneasy.
The mordant chemical etched patterns into the metal plate.
The critic’s mordant review dismantled the film’s pretensions.
Silk requires a mordant to retain vibrant dye colors.
His mordant humor often masked deeper frustrations.