as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
newspaper cartoonists scathed the lecherous governor with a series of cruel caricatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in harm
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scathe
Isabelle Friedman, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
At Fendi’s spring-summer 1993 show, Banks sported a blunt cut blonde wig which scathed her black brows.
—Essence, 4 Dec. 2025
Much has been written about the changes, often in scathing online reviews.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Nov. 2025
Russian reaction Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that Moscow’s leadership was waiting to see the specifics of any deal to supply Tomahawks, but was scathing about the prospect.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The appeals court decision was, at times, scathing toward the state's arguments in the case.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football debates always seem to scathe a few players in the new, with last Monday’s discussions centred around Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle.
—SI.com, 13 Feb. 2018
Verb
From in-depth local news pieces that got to the heart of our communities’ needs to scathing investigative works holding public officials accountable, the Boston Herald’s coverage sought to encapsulate the most important stories for our readership each and every day.
—Isabelle Friedman, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
At Fendi’s spring-summer 1993 show, Banks sported a blunt cut blonde wig which scathed her black brows.
—Essence, 4 Dec. 2025
Much has been written about the changes, often in scathing online reviews.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Nov. 2025
Russian reaction Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that Moscow’s leadership was waiting to see the specifics of any deal to supply Tomahawks, but was scathing about the prospect.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2025
The appeals court decision was, at times, scathing toward the state's arguments in the case.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football debates always seem to scathe a few players in the new, with last Monday’s discussions centred around Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle.
—SI.com, 13 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scathe
Verb
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Police then found a key piece of evidence in a garbage can in a park near the one where Etzler was attacked.—
Mason Leath,
ABC News,
23 Jan. 2026
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Vardan Kostanyan, who owns Laundry King with his wife, said the suspect walked into their laundromat on Tuesday and demanded the keys to their safe before attacking his wife.—
Lauren Pozen,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Weak verification puts workers and consumers at risk of physical and financial harm, and underreporting keeps platforms from seeing how big the problem really is.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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His lawyers argued for a more lenient sentence, pointing to the harm caused to his family by the Unification Church.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Also on hand to scold him out of his funk is Henry’s uncle, Lord Norton (Andrew Havill), a newspaper publisher of waning influence.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Sanders, by now a perennial candidate, perfected his craggy, scolding, mitten-waving style.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Please consult your local burn permitting authorities as to whether burning is allowed.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Her sister, however, suffered third-degree burns and needed skin graft surgery.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dallas City Council members and residents slammed a proposal this week that would have closed at least four libraries throughout the city.—
Marissa Armas,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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Reviewers also note that the item feels well-made and sturdy, with soft-close drawers that won’t slam shut in the midst of a movie marathon.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This tent can double as a heat protector when summer temperatures soar into the 90s and the foliage and bark of many plants, especially tropicals, are susceptible to heat scald.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Applying a thin layer of lawn soil might help protect the green runners from sun scald but is probably not necessary.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Miss Manners is not trying to insult you herself.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
17 Jan. 2026
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As the President insults allies, woos dictators, and spurns long-standing commitments, Rubio has to convince his counterparts that America will not entirely abandon its friends.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Minneapolis is far from alone in navigating high-profile events and bearing scars from multiple tragedies past.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
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More commonly, branches are destroyed, or a permanent vertical scar is left in a tree’s trunk, known as a frost rib.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scathe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scathe. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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