scathe

1 of 2

noun

ˈskāt͟h 

ˈskāth

: harm, injury

scatheless

ˈskāt͟h-ləs 

adjective

scathe

2 of 2

verb

ˈskāt͟h 

scathed; scathing

transitive verb

1

: to do harm to

specifically : scorch, sear

2

: to assail with withering denunciation

Synonyms

Verb

• abuse
• assail
• attack
• bash
• belabor
• blast
• castigate
• excoriate
• jump (on)
• lambaste
• lambast
• potshot
• savage
• slam
• trash
• vituperate

Examples of scathe in a Sentence

Verb

newspaper cartoonists scathed the lecherous governor with a series of cruel caricatures

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football debates always seem to scathe a few players in the new, with last Monday’s discussions centred around Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle. —SI.com, 13 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English skathe, from Old Norse skathi; akin to Old English sceatha injury, Greek askēthēs unharmed

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scathe

1 of 2 noun

ˈskāt͟h 

: harm sense 1, injury

scatheless

-ləs 

adjective

scathe

2 of 2 verb

scathed; scathing

1

: to do harm to : injure

especially : to injure by fire : scorch, sear

2

: to attack with very harsh accusations