scathing

adjective

scath·​ing ˈskā-ṯẖiŋ 

: bitterly severe

a scathing condemnation

scathingly adverb

Synonyms

• satirical
• satiric
• sarcastic
• barbed

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

In recent filings, attorneys for the county argued that conditions have improved since a scathing 2022 state audit found that San Diego jails had the highest mortality rate among California’s large jail systems. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2025

Hillary Clinton ripped as 'massive liar' after scathing reaction to Trump's plan 3. —FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2025

That film wasn’t necessarily a crowd-pleaser, but its scathing depiction of Romania’s widening class divide made for an intriguing minimalist feature that felt both off-the-cuff and relevant. —Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2025

Both players’ scathing assessment of Richardson foreshadowed a roller coaster 2024 campaign that was a lot more down than up. —James Boyd, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1794, 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