Showing results for "searing"

• present participle of sear.

searing

American  

[seer-ing] / ˈsɪər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. serving to burn or char the surface of something, especially of food in order to seal in the juices before cooking.

   Sizzle the rump steak over white-hot coals, under a searing grill, or in a blistering griddle pan.

2. burning or scorching.

   The charge exploded prematurely and the truck was engulfed in searing flames.

3. sharp, penetrating, and severe, like the feeling of being burned.

   For weeks now I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night with searing pain in my ankles.

   Her recent documentary was a searing indictment of the crimes of Stalinism.

4. withering or parching.

   Grass that’s allowed to grow long is like a living mulch, protecting and shielding the root system from the searing heat of summer.

5. leaving a permanent emotional scar.

   He was never to recover from the searing experience of what he saw in the war.

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noun

1. the act of burning or charring the surface of something, especially of food.

   The searing of the vegetables and meat should be done over a very hot burner and with excellent ventilation.

2. the act of branding or marking with a hot iron.

   One of his arms was branded like that of a convict, the flesh still swollen from the searing of the iron.

3. the act of hardening or scarring emotionally, or the resulting condition.

   Were it not for the searing of their conscience, they would realize that what they’re doing is wrong.

4. sharp, penetrating, severe pain.

   I tried to ignore the searing in my muscles after hours of paddling against the current.

Etymology

Origin of searing

First recorded in 1350–1400; sear ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; sear ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Explanation

When something is intense, it's searing. If you fall while roller skating, the searing pain in your leg is a sign that you've really hurt yourself. Searing comes from the verb sear, "burn or brand." The searing heat of the sun beating down on a sweltering day might make you seek relief in the icy cold ocean — it's that powerful. This adjective usually describes extreme heat or pain, but you can also use it for similarly intense criticism. Don't let your debate opponent's searing rebuttal fluster you!

Example Sentences

Searing winds pushed flames into the outskirts of Patras, the country's third-largest city with a population of around 200,000, forcing evacuations including a children's hospital, and sending plumes of smoke across the skyline.

From BBC • Aug. 13, 2025

However, the colt, owned by Lee and Susan Searing, developed a fever and was scratched.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2025

Searing said that since the pandemic, many donors, foundations and nonprofit boards now see the importance of carrying over some funds from year to year to help nonprofits deal with unexpected circumstances.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 20, 2023

Searing molten stones rained down on him from the sky.

From Scientific American • Aug. 16, 2023

Searing was not seriously injured, nor did he suffer pain.

From The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce — Volume 2: In the Midst of Life: Tales of Soldiers and Civilians by Bierce, Ambrose

Related Words

• baking
• blazing
• blistering
• fiery
• incandescent
• scalding
• scorching
• sizzling
• sweltering
• torrid