scorching 1 of 2

Definition of scorchingnext

scorching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scorch

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 scorching
Adjective
People of all ages protested, some wearing sunglasses and caps to shield the scorching afternoon sun. Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026 La Puerta took it even further, reaching a scorching 104 degrees — the hottest temperature ever recorded in the United States during meteorological winter, which spans December through February. Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026 As the scorching heat of summer fast approaches, know how far above normal temperatures are with the Houston Chronicle. Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026 Drinking water under Rio’s scorching summer heat is a must. ABC News, 15 Feb. 2026 Naughty or Nice During a volcanic eruption, a scorching, chaotic river of lava flows over the ground. Quanta Magazine, 6 Feb. 2026 But although its scorching days and freezing nights certainly live up to the name, Death Valley is still home to an array of plants and wildlife—and the trespassers reportedly made a mess of things. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026 But the Spaniard began to struggle physically as the match wore on, with the scorching Australian sun seemingly draining the energy out of him. Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026 String of hearts will thrive in bright, indirect light but needs to be protected from intense afternoons, which could cause scorching. Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
In November, the Mavericks fired beleaguered general manager Nico Harrison — the prime target of fans’ ire — amid the Mavericks’ sputtering start and Doncic’s scorching early-season play in Los Angeles. Eric Prisbell, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026 The Ranger Road megafire is the largest, scorching more than 283,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas — an area nearly twice the size of Chicago. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026 Wildfires are actively burning across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, scorching hundreds of thousands of acres. Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026 In the southern part of the state, thunderstorms were wreaking havoc this week, with lightning igniting a grove of palm trees in San Pasqual Valley, scorching more than 100 on Tuesday. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026 Saturated in the heatwave colors of Australia’s scorching Red Center, with its searing blue skies and bright orange sands, Wolfram makes the grim, lawless backwater of Wake in Fright seem positively cosmopolitan by comparison. Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026 The hard X-ray peak came first, intense and quickly, followed by a longer, scorching soft X-ray and optical glow. Paul Sutter, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026 The Best Ways To Reheat Cooked Bacon Cooked bacon reheats quickly, so always keep an eye on it to prevent scorching. Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026 Drinking chocolate and melted chocolate are best gently heated on the stove to prevent scorching. Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scorching
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
Verb
  • The extra step—charring the garlic, peppers, and onions—takes salsa to the next level.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
  • During my inaugural visit, the kitchen’s Santa Maria grill served as a fiery altar, charring a litany of premium meats over an open flame.
    Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Vouchers will be exchangeable for a laundry card preloaded with $8 in credit, which will cover two wash cycles at any temperature and three 10-minute drying cycles.
    Victoria Le, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
  • Finish by removing the cleaner off the tracks with a damp microfiber cloth or paper towel before drying the tracks with a dry cloth.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The series is equal parts sweeping romance and searing exploration of fame and family in the social media age.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
  • The success of the entire mission and the lives of his fellow warriors hinged on Eric’s ability to take searing pain.
    TIME Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Similar to when the on-air incident happened in 2023, news of Kuiper’s return was a hot topic Wednesday night on social media, eliciting strong opinions in support and against Kuiper’s return.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
  • In the mornings, do a lap of the buffet to choose between made-to-order omelets, fresh fruit, cereals, pancakes and waffles, breads and pastries, and rotating hot sides including breakfast meats and hash browns.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?
    Victoria Edel, People.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Taken together, these insights helped scientists arrive at the current prevailing theory that a Mars-size object smashed into Earth, ejecting a blob of molten material from our planet that became the moon.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
  • For high-temperature liquids like molten salts, a custom densitometer utilizes the Archimedes principle to measure density.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scorching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorching. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.

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