scorched 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of scorchednext
as in burned

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scorched

2 of 2

verb

past tense of scorch
1
as in charred
to burn on the surface the picnickers kept scorching their marshmallows, deliberately sticking their skewers into the licking flames of the campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dried
to make dry weeks of drought had badly scorched the soil

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scorched
Adjective
If possible, wait until the extreme temperatures cool to apply pesticides that can cause scorched leaves. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 June 2026 Later the day of the arson, a young man with scorched hands faced an FBI agent and others investigating the crime. — Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
As of Sunday morning, the Gold Mountain fire had scorched 26,405 acres, according to Rocky Mountain Area Complex Incident Management Team 3, which was leading the fire response. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 5 July 2026 Thunderstorms with high winds on Sunday could hamper efforts to contain a massive wildfire that has scorched parts of southern Colorado. — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for scorched
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scorched
  1. burned
  2. charred
  3. dried
  4. seared
  5. incinerated
  6. scorching
Adjective
  • Designed to function like an ice resurfacer, BurnBot lays down pre-burned paths that define the boundaries of burn areas.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Nov. 2025
  • Yeager said none of the non-burned areas of the facility have been turned on again.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of burned
Verb
  • Large sections of the ceiling were destroyed, blackened and charred, while the floor and tables below, some still with beer bottles on them, were blanketed in ash and debris.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • Pictures shared on social media after the fire was extinguished showed chairs and tables inside the pub completely charred and blackened, with parts of the ceiling peeling off.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 July 2026
Definition of charred
Verb
  • After the concrete basin was emptied, cleaned and dried, the Reflecting Pool was painted in sections.
    — Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 16 July 2026
  • The fragrant leaves are dried and used as culinary bay leaves.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
Definition of dried
Adjective
  • Every guest will enjoy a prix fixe menu of steak, a seared romaine parmesan salad and bottomless fries.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026
  • DiMaria says it can be grilled or pan-seared, then cut into strips or cubes for a main dish.
    — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 20 June 2026
Definition of seared
Adjective
  • Grace, her white lace dress blackened with blood, is smoking a cigarette outside of an incinerated mansion that belongs to her in-laws, the Le Domas, who are all dead.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Know More Initially founded in 2012 with a $5 million dollar grant from the John Templeton Foundation, Nautilus incinerated cash, sparing no expense in its pursuit of bringing resplendent literary science to the reading public.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of incinerated
Adjective
  • Cameron Young has turned up the AC a bit on a scorching-hot season in recent weeks.
    — Justin Ray, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • In cramped, scorching-hot cells, the men sleep in their underwear to keep cool.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of scorching

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scorch
scorched
scorches
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Cite this Entry

“Scorched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorched. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on scorched

Nglish: Translation of scorched for Spanish Speakers

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