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

Engelbert took plenty of heat on social media for her comments, prompting her to release a statement addressing Collier’s scathing remarks. —Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025

The rebels, led by Deepak Rauniyar and Binod Paudel, fired off a scathing letter to the Academy demanding a full investigation and threatening to blow up Nepal’s Oscar dreams entirely. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber had a scathing response. —David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 26 Sep. 2025

Advertisement The catalyst for Lee’s latest frenzy is the death of Dale Washberg (Tim Blake Nelson), the disfavored scion of a locally influential clan about whom Lee recently published a scathing exposé. —Judy Berman, Time, 23 Sep. 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