1
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature
in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
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Recent Examples of searing
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Mikey lambastes him anyway, turning a speech in praise of Richie into a searing evisceration.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2026
James Hibbard, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for searing
Adjective
Steppenwolf and Circle Rep, with their combination of theatrical fearlessness, searing intensity and rabid teamwork, helped shape Mantello’s aesthetic.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026
Mikey lambastes him anyway, turning a speech in praise of Richie into a searing evisceration.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2026
Verb
Quantified with power meters and stopwatches, every lung-searing effort was an imposition of my will on not just my body, but the world.
—James Hibbard, Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for searing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for searing
Adjective
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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
Adjective
-
The scheme has been so successful, law enforcement has created a joint FBI-National Security Division task force to disrupt the operations and have dealt a series of harsh prison terms to American accomplices who have willingly aided the North Koreans.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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To fully embody her OnlyFans persona, an earthside alien named The Hungry Ghost, who offers mild nudity and harsh criticism of her willing subscribers’ genitalia.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Its antenna is marked with charring and is missing a large chunk.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Preheat the oven to 250°F, which is just hot enough to heat the ribs gently without drying them out.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
-
Health officials warn that cooking, boiling, freezing or drying wild mushrooms does not neutralize toxins.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
16 May 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
-
The creature-feature horror film plunges into the jungles of the Dominican Republic, where a group of road workers battling brutal conditions encounter the Ciguapa — a terrifying figure from local folklore with backward feet and the power to possess men through her gaze.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Anyone familiar with the show knows what comes next probably won't be pretty, but even diehard fans will be shocked by how brutal Scattered Hopes can be.—
Ian Stokes,
Space.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Visit in late spring or fall for pleasant weather; summer can get scorching, especially come midday.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
-
Video posted to social media shows the wildfire scorching trees and structures along Highway 61.—
Cole Premo,
CBS News,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
And, if possible, make out with other hot transsexuals on your way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Fans attending games will also be subject to the urban heat island effect, when major cities become significantly hotter than nearby rural areas.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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