mordant

/mˈɔːdənt/

/ˈmɔɹdənt/

[noun] [adjective]

Mordant

[NOUN]

a substance used to treat leather or other materials before dyeing; aids in dyeing process

mordant

[ADJECTIVE]

of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action

synonyms : caustic

corrosive

erosive

vitriolic

having a quality that is criticizing and harsh, yet humorous

synonyms : black

grim

Examples

1. Such mordant thoughts notwithstanding, The Saturn did its job.

2. The characters offered readers a mordant vision of language and social life, subjects of central interest to the humanists, cast in the neat swallowable form of profiles.

3. This strategy of defiance insists on squaring up to the grimness, and then asserting control over it through mordant dryness.

4. And turns out, some of the compounds in stale pee, like ammonia and possibly some trace metals, makes it a surprisingly good mordant.