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

On the same day in May 2015 that President Obama heralded the CCPD, the ACLU-NJ issued a scathing rebuke to the President’s message. —John A. Shjarback, The Conversation, 25 May 2026

McMahon’s post earlier on Friday had amplified a scathing letter from Scott criticizing UF’s presidential search as overly secretive and bashed the university over the substantial $2 million severance payout now owed to outgoing Interim President Donald Landry. —Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026

Chronicles of far-right obedience and moral decadence don’t get much more scathing than this. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026

This year, however, multiple high level sources said the conglomerates are particularly thin-skinned about the scathing Cannes critics. —Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 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