searing

adjective

sear·​ing ˈsir-iŋ 

1

: very hot

2

: marked by extreme intensity, harshness, or emotional power

searing pain

a searing review

a searing portrayal

searingly adverb

Synonyms

• ardent
• boiling
• broiling
• burning
• fervent
• fervid
• fiery
• hot
• piping hot
• red
• red-hot
• roasting
• scalding
• scorching
• sultry
• superheated
• sweltering
• torrid
• ultrahot
• white-hot

Examples of searing in a Sentence

the searing heat of the fire

She felt a searing pain in her foot.

She made a searing attack on her political enemies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Peña said that because the physical changes to the third floor will be minimal, the new flea market should be open in the next couple of weeks — just in time to avoid Miami’s searing summer heat and sudden thunderstorms. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025

Pyroclastic clouds, or a dense mixture of ash, gas and rock dispersed during a volcanic eruption, caused a searing, rapid avalanche of debris to fill the home, Zuchtriegel said. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 17 May 2025

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters On Wednesday, Springsteen delivered a searing criticism of Trump and, apparently, Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk. —Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 16 May 2025

Set in 2019 Los Angeles, Akil’s update paints a searing portrait of the issues faced by teenagers today, exploring the social media age and how, via the race-swapping of the leads, Black kids come of age in white America. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 8 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for searing

• cheering
• clearing
• earing
• earring
• fearing
• gearing
• hearing
• jeering
• leering
• nearing
• peering
• rearing