as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
newspaper cartoonists scathed the lecherous governor with a series of cruel caricatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in harm
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scathe
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The appeals court decision was, at times, scathing toward the state's arguments in the case.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football debates always seem to scathe a few players in the new, with last Monday’s discussions centred around Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle.
—SI.com, 13 Feb. 2018
Noun
Russian reaction Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that Moscow’s leadership was waiting to see the specifics of any deal to supply Tomahawks, but was scathing about the prospect.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The appeals court decision was, at times, scathing toward the state's arguments in the case.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football debates always seem to scathe a few players in the new, with last Monday’s discussions centred around Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle.
—SI.com, 13 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scathe
Verb
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And if Klopp felt the benefits of turning throw-ins into choreographed events, complete with long build-ups, would be outweighed in Liverpool’s case by a loss of attacking impetus, is there not something to be said for that?—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Officers found people trying to attack police cruisers with fireworks, cones, poles and other items.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This has kept geolocation deals from causing severe economic harm compared to revenue, multiple people at betting companies told Sportico.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
16 Oct. 2025
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The school once contributed to the eradication of smallpox and the development of the polio vaccine, led breakthroughs linking air pollution to lung and heart disease, and helped demonstrate the harms of trans fats.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Royal Dutch Medical Association scolded the psychiatrists, and prosecutors declined to act.—
Asra Q. Nomani,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Like an impatient parent scolding their toddler, Frankenstein grows frustrated with his monster’s limited capacity for speech.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Beyond the look and feel (LOTS of orange decor and side-burns), directors Colin and Cameron Cairnes nailed other era-specific components like the exaggerated way talk show guests present themselves (the psychic!—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
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According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), high doses of cesium-137 can cause burns, acute radiation sickness, and even death.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hart will insult Hammerstein as a third-rate talent and then, upon being face-to-face with his rival, spews over-the-top compliments.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
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The Bronx native appears to be referencing her vicious feud with Nicki Minaj, which became a nasty back-and-forth on social media earlier this month that ended up seeing both artists insulting each other’s children.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Applying a thin layer of lawn soil might help protect the green runners from sun scald but is probably not necessary.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2025
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Wrap the trunk of very young trees to help protect them from sun scald, making sure to remove it after the last frost in spring.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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With Sami's back turned, Dragunov tried to hit a move near the corner, but Sami dodged it and slammed his opponent back overhead.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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One verbally slammed Thanedar for his support of Israel, and another took on Kinloch regarding recent comments on bringing the National Guard to Detroit.—
Darcie Moran,
Freep.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The scars are beautiful and almost aerodynamic.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
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The twist, so to speak, in Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han’s feature debut, is that the child in question is a Belgian girl growing up in rural Japan in the 1960s — a place filled with countless natural wonders, but also marked by the scars of a major war that haven’t quite healed.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scathe. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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