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
Relevance
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
Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Sarah had similarly scathing words for her former stepmother.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 10 May 2025
Conservative leaders faced a scathing rejection at the ballot box.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 4 May 2025
In a scathing order, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford said Mahdawi was not a flight risk nor a danger to society, citing his strong ties to Vermont, studies at Columbia and eagerness to pursue American citizenship — even at risk of being detained.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Adjective
The Trump administration has canceled another $450 million in grants to Harvard University, two weeks after the Ivy League school released a scathing internal review about antisemitism on its campus.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 13 May 2025
Sarah had similarly scathing words for her former stepmother.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 10 May 2025
Conservative leaders faced a scathing rejection at the ballot box.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 4 May 2025
In a scathing order, U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford said Mahdawi was not a flight risk nor a danger to society, citing his strong ties to Vermont, studies at Columbia and eagerness to pursue American citizenship — even at risk of being detained.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scathing
Verb
-
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
-
Completely misreading Hamas, the army believed that it was deterred from attacking Israel by the outcome of previous fighting.—
Gershom Gorenberg,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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All Systems Red is a legible introduction to Wells’ hyper-capitalist, playfully satiric galaxy.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
16 May 2025
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That’s the premise of Douglas Is Cancelled, a cruelly funny 2024 BBC sitcom that seems very much in sync with satiric comedies such as The Office and W1A and Yes Minister.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
22 Mar. 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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While the jeers towards Xhaka followed the midfielder, Arsenal’s captain at the time, retaliating to sarcastic cheers from the crowd at him being replaced in an October 2019 home match against Crystal Palace, those directed at Eboue were due to his performance.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
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His first half was littered with increasingly ridiculous highlights: a lefty hook over Isaiah Hartenstein, a potpourri of 3s with hands in his face, a sarcastic stare-down after his defender tried taking a charge, followed by a pass to himself off the backboard to simplify the finish.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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The inmates used blankets to protect themselves from the barbed wire on the fence.—
Alex Sundby,
CBS News,
21 May 2025
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The men brought blankets to protect themselves from barbed wire.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scathing. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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