searing

1 having a notably high temperature in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside Synonyms ardent, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, piping hot, red, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, hot, sultry, superheated, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, white-hotRelated Words blazing, glowing, igneous, molten, seething, sizzling; heated, overheated, reheated, warmed; snug, toasty, warm, warmish; feverish, flushed, inflamed (also enflamed); canicular, muggy, steamy, summerlike, summery, tropicalNear Antonyms chill, chilly, coldish, cool, coolish, nippy, snappy; blizzardly, frosty, snowy, subfreezing, subzero, wintry (also wintery); chilled, cooled, refrigerated, unheated; benumbed, numb, shiveringAntonyms algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, cold, freezing, frigid, frozen, glacial, ice-cold, iced, icy

2 difficult to endure the undersecretary looked chastened as he listened to the congressman's searing rebuke Synonyms bitter, brutal, burdensome, cruel, excruciating, grievous, grim, hard, hardhanded, heavy, inhuman, murderous, onerous, oppressive, rough, rugged, harsh, severe, stiff, tough, tryingRelated Words austere, bleak, comfortless, discomforting, forbidding, inhospitable, spartan, uncomfortable; biting, inclement, intemperate, wild; rigorous, strict, stringent; agonizing, heartbreaking, heartrending, painful, wretched; crushing, grinding, overwhelming, wearing; insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable; harrowing, tortuous; bad, disagreeable, hostile, unfriendly, unpleasantNear Antonyms comfortable, cozy, luxurious, snug; agreeable, friendly, genial, hospitable, pleasant; peaceful, relaxing, reposeful, restful; bearable, endurable, painless, tolerable; balmy, calm, clement, gentle, mild, moderate, temperateAntonyms easy, light, soft