scalding 1 of 2

adjective

ˈskȯl-diŋ How to pronounce scalding (audio)
Definition of scaldingnext
1
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature the scalding water of a geyser

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in satiric
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings scalding reviews for the overproduced horror movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scalding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scald
1
as in lacerating

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
2
as in scorching

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
3
as in simmering

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of scalding
Adjective
There is an anti-scalding handle, so your hand is protected and a steam outlet to let off any high pressure steam to protect yourself. — Chris Hachey, BGR, 2 Apr. 2021 One man placed in a scalding bath or shower went to the hospital with second-degree burns. — Benjamin Weiser, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2020 But Reimann achieves an exemplary balance by alternating his scalding eruptions of vocal power (which in general are sparsely accompanied, sometimes by percussion alone) with full-throttle tutti blasts from the orchestra. — Matthew Aucoin, The New York Review of Books, 7 Dec. 2019 Two weeks ago, family and friends laid to rest Malachi Lawson, the 4-year-old who was burned in a scalding bath, his body then tossed in a dumpster. — Tim Prudente, baltimoresun.com, 26 Aug. 2019 See All Example Sentences for scalding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scalding
  1. boiling
  2. satiric
  3. lacerating
  4. scorching
  5. simmering
  6. searing
  7. sarcastic
  8. tearing
Adjective
  • More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of boiling
Adjective
  • According to The Jerusalem Post, Malkovich is scheduled to return to Tel Aviv for the satirical theatrical-musical production on April 13 at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium.
    — Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Critics have long speculated that his depiction was satirical—that the first utopian literary work was, at least in part, dystopian.
    — Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of satiric
Verb
  • Two generations of viewers have now grown up consuming The Daily Show’s lacerating take on politics.
    — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • In the last year, Huston has broken his eye socket — twice — and his jaw, as well as lacerating his kidney, per posts on his social media.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 June 2026
Definition of lacerating
Verb
  • Only one other spacecraft, NASA’s Messenger, has explored the puzzling, scorching planet that is just a little bigger than our moon.
    — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Prolonged periods of drought are scorching French pastures, leeching them of their usual lush green vitality and leaving behind parched, lifeless yellow fields.
    — Vivian Song, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of scorching
Verb
  • McKee, 75, will also have to overcome simmering anger over a bridge repair project that has dragged on longer than expected.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The world seemed to tilt a little off its axis since a long-simmering feud between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher tore apart Oasis before a 2009 gig in Paris.
    — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of simmering
Adjective
  • The searing season only exacerbated the Colorado River water crisis.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The result is a book that, despite the searing and brutal honesty of its details, never becomes fully untethered from basic human tenderness.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of searing
Adjective
  • Starring Andrew Scott as British actor Ian Charleson, who throws himself into playing Hamlet while succumbing to AIDS, the film’s ensemble cast features Dolan as the sarcastic receptionist at the National Theatre in London.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The sarcastic Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry) and affable actor Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) are among her favorite characters.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of sarcastic
Verb
  • In a series of videos posted on social media and flagged by KOB4, Martinez filmed himself tearing the camera towers down in order to return them to their rightful owners.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Because the tool cuts through vibration rather than force, the edge is designed to stay closer to true, with reduced crushing or tearing on delicate parts and thin sheet stock.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of tearing

Browse Nearby Words

scalded
scalding
scalds
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scalding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scalding. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All