In a caustic manner; in a way that is burning, corrosive, or sarcastically harsh and cutting.
Derived from caustic (Greek kaustikos, 'able to burn') with the adverb-forming suffix -ly. This follows standard English patterns for converting adjectives to adverbs describing the manner of action.
When someone speaks 'caustically,' they're wielding words like acid—the metaphor of burning goes back to ancient Greek chemistry, yet we still use it for sharp wit. Language recycles its injury metaphors constantly.
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