as in satirical
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in attacking
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
newspaper cartoonists scathed the lecherous governor with a series of cruel caricatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scathing
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2025
Voting 2-1 along party lines, the commissioners gave the go-ahead to the $8 billion deal, which has been mired in allegations of political interference stemming from President Trump’s scathing criticism and his lawsuit against Paramount’s CBS News division.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
Last year, the White House instituted Cyber Safety Review Board published a report on the breach that was scathing in its criticism of Microsoft.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
In his new interview with Andrew Callaghan, Hunter offered a particularly scathing takedown of George Clooney, who famously penned an op-ed for The New York Times in July 2024 that publicly urged Biden to drop out of the race.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Adjective
Other late-night hosts — including current Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon — have rallied behind Colbert since the decision, with fellow talents working under parent company Paramount Global having been especially scathing.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 27 July 2025
Voting 2-1 along party lines, the commissioners gave the go-ahead to the $8 billion deal, which has been mired in allegations of political interference stemming from President Trump’s scathing criticism and his lawsuit against Paramount’s CBS News division.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
Last year, the White House instituted Cyber Safety Review Board published a report on the breach that was scathing in its criticism of Microsoft.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
In his new interview with Andrew Callaghan, Hunter offered a particularly scathing takedown of George Clooney, who famously penned an op-ed for The New York Times in July 2024 that publicly urged Biden to drop out of the race.
—Meredith Kile, People.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scathing
Verb
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The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities recently launched a campaign attacking the governor for allowing the state’s overreliance on property taxes to worsen and for seeking to slash summer work programs that assist the state’s troubled youths.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
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The early glimpses show a player with real potential in the attacking third, capable of thriving in transition and striking well at goal.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The poem is part love quest, part account of Italy’s battles; in places profoundly serious, in places satiric.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
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Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Hundreds of drones being used as part of a Saturday night aerial light show in Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando appeared to be flying into position before several started falling from the sky before slamming to the ground, according to videos posted online.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
23 Dec. 2024
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His endorsement of the AfD came alongside a video of a far-right German commentator slamming the leading candidate to become Germany’s next chancellor, the conservative Friedrich Merz.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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And as trade speculation has risen, Harris reported a sarcastic one-word retort from the pitcher.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
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Their dynamic is not entirely unlike that of the upstart Nomi and established Cristal in Showgirls or the sarcastic Devon and beatific Michaela in Sirens: On one hand, Sophie wants to be as confident and self-possessed as Margo, as comfortable in her own skin and her desires.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Ivor checked it, and then spotted the line of barbed wire threaded through the scrub.—
Anne Enright,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
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That speculative element is teased right there in the title: One of God’s best and brightest has been knocked from heaven by war’s tumult and is caught in a thatch of barbed wire.—
Ben H. Winters,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scathing. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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