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
Relevance
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
-
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
-
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
-
Cozy Earth recommends washing them in cold water (without any fabric softener) and drying them on a regular cycle.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Rinse the solution off the slats before drying with a clean towel.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 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
-
If a strip feels warm to the touch or shows signs of scorching, replace it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
-
Westerners, Arabs and Indians dominate business and finance, while laborers from poor countries in Asia and Africa toil for long hours in scorching temperatures at oil facilities and construction sites — often with few protections.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
The first quarter was back and forth until the Aces got hot, going on a 13-0 run over a 90-second stretch to break open a double-digit lead fueled by six points from Carter.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
14 May 2026
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When simmered in water just hot enough to bring it to a safe temperature, the meat will be juicy and tender.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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