searing

adjective

sear·​ing ˈsir-iŋ How to pronounce searing (audio)
1
: very hot
2
: marked by extreme intensity, harshness, or emotional power
searing pain
a searing review
a searing portrayal
searingly adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pritzker’s speech, which occurred as national Democrats were largely leaderless in countering and criticizing Trump’s early chaotic presidential moves, aimed to fill the vacuum and garnered significant attention by offering a searing response to the president for a national audience. Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025 And first baseman Colby Thorndyke comes in with a searing swing. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 June 2025 Richard Gadd’s searing, semi-autobiographical dramedy — which appeared on the kudos scene a scant one month before the close of eligibility — went on to essentially sweep Limited Series categories at last September’s Emmys. Michael Ausiello, TVLine, 6 June 2025 Caminero, who was hitless in his previous 17 at-bats, led off with a searing homer to left-center, hit at 109.2 mph and carrying 409 feet. Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for searing

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of searing was in 1678

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Cite this Entry

“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/searing. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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