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
Led by a 24-point performance from Jaylen Petty, Texas Tech shot a scorching 65% from the field. Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026 It’s finally expected to cool down in Southern California this weekend after a scorching heat wave this week broke temperature records across the region. Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 Health officials have warned people in Southern California about unsafe swimming conditions at Los Angeles-area beaches as the region grapples with scorching and dangerous temperatures. Mike Snider, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026 Neither were particularly excited for the scorching week ahead. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026 There was barely anything to eat or drink and there was no protection from the scorching sun. Nick Miller, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026 Nur stopped in his tracks, looking around nervously—the knee-jerk reaction of an Arab refugee, despite the features protecting him from the scorching sun of Zionist Tel Aviv. Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 That scorching start helped Adebayo end up in position to make history later in the night, as only Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game on March 2, 1962, is ahead of Adebayo. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026 The water-loving plants couldn’t survive amid such scorching summers and winters with no rain. Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
Across the four days of scorching temperatures, 40 daily high temperature records were broken, the NWS said. Sierra Van Der Brug, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026 This unseasonable March streak of scorching heat is not only notable in its intensity, but also in its duration and its scale. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 And scorching Southern California weather could lead to earlier fire season. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026 The death of a star is usually thought to be a violent and hostile place, filled with scorching radiation that destroys fragile molecules. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Mar. 2026 In a region where weather swings from paralyzing ice storms to scorching summers, these elements carry weight. Mary Grace Granados special Contributor, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026 How to Cope When spending time outdoors in scorching weather, protect yourself by hydrating frequently, avoiding the hottest time of day, and seeking shade when possible. Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Mar. 2026 In 2023, the marathon was canceled the morning of due to scorching heat. Aki Nace, CBS News, 3 Mar. 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
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 finished pizza should have a thin crust with a puffy cornice around the edges, spotted with charring.
    Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The extra step—charring the garlic, peppers, and onions—takes salsa to the next level.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The drying stage was entirely eliminated by using hydrothermal carbonization — a process similar to high-pressure cooking.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The other villagers — mostly women and children — sit just beyond the sandbag perimeter, under the shade of some trees, spreading more cassava on bamboo trays in preparation for drying.
    Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • There are no national – or local – media outlets setting up for live broadcasts on this searing hot afternoon.
    Celina Tebor, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
  • No kitchen is complete without a skillet, and this well-sized model is perfect for searing, stir-frying, sauteing and more.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • But the script flipped in the third quarter, as the Cavaliers got hot and the Heat went cold from behind the arc.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
  • These cards use more power than earlier Arc Pros and are likely to get too hot to run fanless without some performance penalty, but this card's thermal design allows air to pass straight through its enclosure and out the back of the case.
    Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 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
  • Multitracked saxophones swarm over a pit of molten bass frequencies, slipping between sentimental consonance—you might momentarily be reminded of Vangelis’ Blade Runner score—and eerie discord.
    Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The inscription would have sent enemies quite an impression as it was burned into the stone with molten lead, as if daring the attackers to continue their useless advance, Live Science continues.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scorching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorching. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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