VITRIOLIC

caustic, corrosive, erosive, vitriolic, mordant

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

acerb, acerbic, acid, acrid, bitter, blistering, caustic, sulfurous, sulphurous, virulent, vitriolic

(adjective) harsh or corrosive in tone; “an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose”; “a barrage of acid comments”; “her acrid remarks make her many enemies”; “bitter words”; “blistering criticism”; “caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics”; “a sulfurous denunciation”; “a vitriolic critique”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

vitriolic (comparative more vitriolic, superlative most vitriolic)

(chemistry, dated) Of or pertaining to vitriol; derived from or resembling vitriol.

Synonym: vitriolous (obsolete)

(figuratively) Bitterly scathing, caustic.

Source: Wiktionary

Vit`ri*ol"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. vitriolique.] (Chem.)

Definition: Of or pertaining to vitriol; derived from, or resembling, vitriol; vitriolous; as, a vitriolic taste. Cf. Vitriol. Vitriolic acid (Old Chem.), (a) sulphuric acid. See Vitriol (b). [Colloq.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition