searing

searing

adjective

Definition of SEARING

1

having a notably high temperature <in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside>

Synonyms ardent, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, piping hot, red, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, sultry, superheated, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, white-hot

Related Words blazing, glowing, igneous, molten, seething, sizzling; heated, overheated, reheated, warmed; snug, toasty, warm, warmish; feverish, flushed, inflamed (also enflamed); canicular, muggy, steamy, summerlike, summery, tropical

Near Antonyms chill, chilly, coldish, cool, coolish, nippy, snappy; blizzardly, frosty, snowy, subfreezing, subzero, wintry (also wintery); chilled, cooled, refrigerated, unheated; benumbed, numb, shivering

Antonyms algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, cold, freezing, frigid, frozen, glacial, ice-cold, iced, icy

2

difficult to endure <the undersecretary looked chastened as he listened to the congressman's searing rebuke>

Synonyms bitter, brutal, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, hardhanded, heavy, inhuman, murderous, onerous, oppressive, rough, rugged, searing, severe, stiff, tough, trying

Related Words austere, bleak, comfortless, discomforting, forbidding, inhospitable, spartan, uncomfortable; biting, inclement, intemperate, wild; rigorous, strict, stringent; agonizing, heartbreaking, heartrending, painful, wretched; crushing, grinding, overwhelming, wearing; insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable; harrowing, tortuous; bad, disagreeable, hostile, unfriendly, unpleasant

Near Antonyms comfortable, cozy, luxurious, snug; agreeable, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant; peaceful, relaxing, reposeful, restful; bearable, endurable, painless, tolerable; balmy, calm, clement, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate

Antonyms easy, light, soft