scathing

adjective

scath·​ing ˈskā-ṯẖiŋ 

: bitterly severe

a scathing condemnation

scathingly adverb

Synonyms of scathing

• satiric
• sarcastic
• barbed
• acidic

Choose the Right Synonym for scathing

caustic, mordant, acrid, scathing mean stingingly incisive.

caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Examples of scathing in a Sentence

a scathing review of the book

a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s a scathing indictment coming from a guy who was coaching just one level above that a year ago. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026

The United States, which provides billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, has issued a scathing rebuke, perhaps because one of the homeowners is a Palestinian American living in Ohio. — Joseph Krauss, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Atlanta Jewish Times Publisher Michael Morris, in a scathing rebuke, sought to dismantle Ossoff’s reasoning. — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026

Naipaul’s scathing critique of radical left-wing politics may yet limit the audience for his ideas. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scathing

• bathing
• lathing
• sunbathing

Kids Definition

scathing

adjective

scath·​ing

ˈskā-t͟hiŋ

: painfully harsh

a scathing look

scathingly

-t͟hiŋ-lē

adverb