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
To escape the scorching Phoenix summers, Booker three years ago bought a home in Flagstaff, which is about three hours north of Phoenix. Jason Quick, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026 Hendrick driver Alex Bowman got sick on a scorching 85-degree day and had to be replaced by Myatt Snider, a pit spotter for FOX. Kevin Lyttle, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026 People of all ages protested, some wearing sunglasses and caps to shield the scorching afternoon sun. Dallas Morning News, 28 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 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 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 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 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
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
  • Simplify your cooking time with milk frother wands, miniature bag sealers, vegetable choppers, collapsible drying racks, and more.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The brand has even included a convenient hanging hook to expedite the already quick-drying properties of this base layer in the event things get a little too wet and wild.
    Harry Spampinato, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The scandal caused a searing public spotlight to be cast on UConn Health’s financial management practices.
    Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
  • 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
Adjective
  • The number of days per year worldwide that are too hot to engage in ordinary activities has doubled since 1950, separate research found, while Arctic sea ice is at its lowest level on record.
    Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Jennette Jurado from Death Valley’s Public Information Team echoed that warning, noting that strong winds and hot temperatures over the weekend had probably contributed to a floral decline.
    Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 11 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
  • Like other times, the molten rock was confined within Kilauea's summit crater inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and hasn’t threatened homes or buildings.
    ABC News, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Heat from the reactor is carried by a secondary sodium loop to intermediate heat exchangers, which then transfer energy to a molten-salt loop connected to thermal storage tanks.
    David Szondy March 08, New Atlas, 8 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scorching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorching. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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