searing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsir-iŋ How to pronounce searing (audio)
Definition of searingnext
1
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harsh
difficult to endure the undersecretary looked chastened as he listened to the congressman's searing rebuke

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

searing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sear
1
as in charring
to burn on the surface lightly sear the steaks, but don't cook them all the way through

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2
as in drying
to make dry the clear desert air is seared by the summer sun

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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 searing
Adjective
Set the scene With a prime position on the shores of Lake Constance at the confluence of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein, Buff Medical Resort is a brand new beast with searing ambition. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 July 2026 Overtourism In Europe Is Changing Neighborhoods Despite searing heat, scorching wildfires and overcrowding, visitors keep on coming to Europe, with the biggest burden falling on southern Europe to accommodate them. — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
Right now, everything was an eye-searing neon yellow. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026 Follow Ham El-Waylly’s lead by searing the fish in the skillet before finishing in the oven. — Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for searing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for searing
  1. boiling
  2. harsh
  3. charring
  4. drying
  5. burning
  6. brutal
  7. scorching
  8. hot
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
Definition of boiling
Adjective
  • The couple made sure the design included a basement where the kids could spend time, better insulation to handle South Dakota’s harsh weather and plenty of storage — all features their previous home lacked.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • Those are some of the harsh conditions that detainees in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody described experiencing in recent weeks at the Federal Detention Center, a Bureau of Prisons facility located in a concrete tower in downtown Miami.
    — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of harsh
Verb
  • If hearths had been built in the cave, underlying bones would have shown evidence of charring — but not a single bone out of the 4,500 studied was burned.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • That 18,379-acre fire burned for two weeks, largely charring grass over about a third of the island.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of charring
Verb
  • Place the bottle parts on a drying rack or a clean towel with the mouth of the bottle facing down.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2026
  • Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have developed a novel conductive ink that can be painted directly onto the skin in colorful custom designs, turning into a functional electrode for biomonitoring after drying.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026
Definition of drying
Adjective
  • Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
  • In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
Definition of burning
Adjective
  • But for one more summer, there’s Wednesday night hockey in the suburbs, the tickets are cheap, the autographs are free, and the arena is air conditioned in the midst of a brutal heat wave.
    — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 July 2026
  • Shop Cooling Summer Dresses at REI This summer has proven to be particularly brutal, with heat waves engulfing a massive portion of the country.
    — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Definition of brutal
Verb
  • Often if calcium levels in the soil are too low, plants would also be exhibiting signs of deficiency including stunted growth, curling of leaves and perhaps spotting or scorching on leaves.
    — Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
  • But beyond the numbers — buoyed by a scorching 7 of 9 showing in two games at the California Classic — his form looks sound.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 19 July 2026
Definition of scorching
Adjective
  • Arguably, no program was as hot in June at picking up portal commitments, with Miami currently standing at 12 commits.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
Definition of hot

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Cite this Entry

“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of searing for Spanish Speakers

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