searing

sear·ing | \ ˈsir-iŋ

How to pronounce searing (audio)

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Definition of searing

1 : very hot

2 : marked by extreme intensity, harshness, or emotional power searing pain a searing review a searing portrayal

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Examples of searing in a Sentence

the searing heat of the fire She felt a searing pain in her foot. She made a searing attack on her political enemies.

Recent Examples on the Web Everyone agreed that her film, a searing documentary exploring the experience of Black women in America, was wonderful. — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, "Oge Egbuonu Wants Black Women To Feel Seen In Her Outstanding Directorial Debut," 21 June 2020 Her most searing memory of the massacre was how the mob destroyed her doll, a recent gift. — National Geographic, "Remembering ‘Red Summer,’ when white mobs massacred Blacks from Tulsa to D.C.," 19 June 2020 Gleeson's searing rebuke is the latest in what has become a fraught and long-running prosecution of the former Army general. — Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY, "Justice Department showed 'gross abuse of prosecutorial power" in Michael Flynn case, court-appointed arbiter says," 10 June 2020 Some Republicans have dismissed former Defense Secretary James Mattis' searing rebuke of President Trump — but not Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). — TheWeek, "GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski calls Mattis' rebuke 'necessary,' says she's 'struggling' with whether to still support Trump," 4 June 2020 The Mavs owner, in the new podcast episode, alternated between mild praise and searing criticism. — Tom Benning, Dallas News, "Mark Cuban was so serious about White House bid, he got a pollster. But ‘I just didn’t think I could win’," 4 June 2020 Trump's whiplash comments came after protesters torched a Minneapolis police station on Thursday night, capping three days of searing demonstrations over the death of Floyd. — Hearst Television, Houston Chronicle, "White House placed on lockdown during protesting," 30 May 2020 Crowley's family moved out of a neighborhood shortly before one of the most searing incidents in Milwaukee's history occurred: the 2002 fatal beating of Charlie Young by a mob of young boys. — Bill Glauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "'People felt like this was my path': David Crowley's journey to becoming the first African American elected as Milwaukee County executive," 4 May 2020 While this singular, searing experience may be enough, in the short term, to offset the powerful broader trend toward fewer hospitals and more care closer to the patient, the reprieve may prove short-lived. — David Shaywitz, National Review, "How Will Coronavirus Change the Health-Care Industry?," 1 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'searing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

2 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/searing. Accessed 10 Jul. 2020.

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