mordant(s = adj.all) black, grim - harshly ironic or sinister; "black humor"; "a grim joke"; "grim laughter"; "fun ranging from slapstick clowning ... to savage mordant wit"
mordant(s = adj.all) caustic, corrosive, erosive, vitriolic - of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action; Array

Derived form noun mordant₁

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CIDE DICTIONARY

mordant, a. [F., p. pr. of mordere to bite; L. mordere. See Morsel.].

Biting; caustic; sarcastic; keen; severe. [1913 Webster]
Serving to fix colors. [1913 Webster]

mordant, n. [F., originally, biting.].

Any corroding substance used in etching. [1913 Webster]
Any substance, as alum or copperas, which, having a twofold attraction for organic fibers and coloring matter, serves as a bond of union, and thus gives fixity to, or bites in, the dyes. [1913 Webster]
Any sticky matter by which the gold leaf is made to adhere. [1913 Webster]

mordant, v. t.

To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant; as, to mordant goods for dyeing. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

mordant, adj. & n.
--adj.
1 (of sarcasm etc.) caustic, biting.
2 pungent, smarting.
3 corrosive or cleansing.
4 (of a substance) serving to fix colouring-matter or gold leaf on another substance.
--n. a mordant substance (in senses 3, 4 of adj.).

Derivative

mordancy n. mordantly adv.

Etymology

ME f. F, part. of mordre bite f. L mordere

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THESAURUS

mordant

Attic, acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acid, acidic, acidulent, acidulous, acrid, acrimonious, actual cautery, asperous, astringent, biting, bitter, brand, brand iron, branding iron, brilliant, caustic, cauter, cauterant, cauterizer, cautery, clever, corroding, corrosive, cutting, double-edged, driving, droll, edged, effective, electrocautery, escharotic, facetious, fierce, forceful, forcible, funny, gutsy, harsh, hot iron, humorous, humorsome, imperative, impressive, incisive, irritating, jesting, jocose, jocular, joking, joky, joshing, keen, keen-witted, lunar caustic, mordacious, moxa, nervous, nimble-witted, nose-tickling, penetrating, piercing, piquant, poignant, pointed, potential cautery, powerful, punchy, pungent, quick-witted, radium, rapier-like, rigorous, rough, salt, salty, scathing, scintillating, scorching, sensational, severe, sharp, sinewed, sinewy, slashing, smart, sour, sparkling, sprightly, stabbing, stinging, strident, striking, stringent, strong, tart, telling, trenchant, vehement, vigorous, violent, virulent, vital, vitriolic, whimsical, withering, witty

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ROGET THESAURUS

mordant

Physical Energy

N energy, physical energy, force, power, keenness, intensity, vigor, strength, elasticity, go, high pressure, fire, rush, acrimony, acritude, causiticity, virulence, poignancy, harshness, severity, edge, point, pungency, cantharides, seasoning, activity, agitation, effervescence, ferment, fermentation, ebullition, splutter, perturbation, stir, bustle, voluntary energy, quicksilver, resolution, exertion, excitation, strong, energetic, forcible, active, intense, deep-dyed, severe, keen, vivid, sharp, acute, incisive, trenchant, brisk, rousing, irritation, poignant, virulent, caustic, corrosive, mordant, harsh, stringent, double-edged, double-shotted, double- distilled, drastic, escharotic, racy, potent, radioactive, strongly, fortiter in re, with telling effect, the steam is up, vires acquirit eundo, the race by vigor not by vaunts is won.

Pungency

N pungency, piquance, piquancy, poignancy haut-gout, strong taste, twang, race, sharpness, acrimony, roughness, unsavoriness, mustard, cayenne, caviare, seasoning, niter, saltpeter, brine (saltiness), carbonate of ammonia, sal ammoniac, sal volatile, smelling salts, hartshorn (acridity), dram, cordial, nip, nicotine, tobacco, snuff, quid, smoke, segar, cigar, cigarette, weed, fragrant weed, Indian weed, Cavendish, fid, negro head, old soldier, rappee, stogy, pungent, strong, high-, full-flavored, high-tasted, high-seasoned, gamy, sharp, stinging, rough, piquant, racy, biting, mordant, spicy, seasoned, hot, hot as pepper, peppery, vellicating, escharotic, meracious, acrid, acrimonious, bitter, rough, unsavory.

Color

N color, hue, tint, tinge, dye, complexion, shade, tincture, cast, livery, coloration, glow, flush, tone, key, pure color, positive color, primary color, primitive complementary color, three primaries, spectrum, chromatic dispersion, broken color, secondary color, tertiary color, local color, coloring, keeping, tone, value, aerial perspective, chromatics, spectrum analysis, spectroscopy, chromatism, chromatography, chromatology, prism, spectroscope, spectrograph, spectrometer, colorimeter (optical instruments), pigment, coloring matter, paint, dye, wash, distemper, stain, medium, mordant, oil paint, colored, colorific, tingent, tinctorial, chromatic, prismatic, full-colored, high-colored, deep-colored, doubly-dyed, polychromatic, chromatogenous, tingible, bright, vivid, intense, deep, fresh, unfaded, rich, gorgeous, gay, gaudy, florid, gay, garish, rainbow-colored, multihued, showy, flaunting, flashy, raw, crude, glaring, flaring, discordant, inharmonious, mellow, pastel, harmonious, pearly, sweet, delicate, tender, refined.

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