scathing

adjective

scath·​ing ˈskā-ṯẖiŋ 

: bitterly severe

a scathing condemnation

scathingly adverb

Synonyms

• satirical
• satiric
• sarcastic
• barbed

Choose the Right Synonym for scathing

caustic, mordant, acrid, scathing mean stingingly incisive.

caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.

mordant reviews of the play

acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.

a scathing satire

Examples of scathing in a Sentence

a scathing review of the book

a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination

Recent Examples on the Web

The Biden administration’s CIA chief gave his scathing rebuke of the current administration’s transformation of the intelligence community during an event with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. —Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 9 Sep. 2025

Portland artist Sam Pletcher threw the gotcha grenade with a scathing gram. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025

Sean Gallagher, an assistant chief who has overseen the department's response to scathing inspector general and congressional reports, said the agency is not ignoring those failures. —Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025

Or the skewering and scathing kind from social media, where everyone’s a target by armchair quarterback blowhards, including over four mixed starts at Arizona State in 2023. —Joe Davidosn, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1794, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scathing

• bathing
• lathing
• sunbathing

Kids Definition

scathing

adjective

scath·​ing

ˈskā-t͟hiŋ

: painfully harsh

a scathing look

scathingly

-t͟hiŋ-lē

adverb