scathing

adjective

scath·​ing ˈskā-ṯẖiŋ 

: bitterly severe

a scathing condemnation

scathingly adverb

Synonyms

• acerb
• acerbic
• acid
• acidic
• acidulous
• acrid
• barbed
• biting
• caustic
• corrosive
• cutting
• mordant
• pungent
• sarcastic
• sardonic
• satiric
• satirical
• scalding
• sharp
• smart-aleck
• smart-alecky
• smart-mouthed
• snarky
• tart

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

Even the European Central Bank’s Mario Draghi highlighted what the region is losing out on in a scathing report last month. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune Europe, 21 Oct. 2024

Miller-Lerman disagreed in a scathing retort, saying that to find the laws unconstitutional could disenfranchise 59,000 Nebraska residents who have been eligible to vote since the 2005 law passed and that such a finding would consolidate power in the executive branch. —L'oreal Thompson Payton, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2024

Yet the film, which NBC News saw ahead of its theatrical release, paints an often scathing portrait. —Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 11 Oct. 2024

Sunlight streamed into the breakfast room, where Robert and his wife Catriona served us an exceptional full Scottish breakfast that changed my husband’s previously scathing opinion on haggis. —Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scathing

adjective

scath·​ing

ˈskā-t͟hiŋ

: painfully harsh

a scathing look

scathingly

-t͟hiŋ-lē

adverb