Which word describes biting wit?

• A. Capricious
• B. Chauvinist
• C. Caustic
• D. Chicanery

Answer: (C)

Biting wit comes from language that is sharp and cutting, a humor that stings as it punches holes in pretension. The word that best captures that sense is caustic, which is used to describe remarks or humor that are corrosively critical and burn with sarcasm. The other words don’t fit this nuance: capricious means unpredictable and changeable, not about humor; chauvinist refers to biased or aggressive patriotism, not wit; chicanery denotes trickery or deceit, not a biting, witty edge. So caustic is the right choice because it directly conveys that sharp, cutting quality of the humor. For example, “Her caustic wit kept the room in line, as she punctured every overblown claim with a sharp remark.”