Showing results for "blistering"

• present participle of blister.

blistering

American  

[blis-ter-ing] / ˈblɪs tər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. causing a blister or blisters.

2. (especially of sunlight, heat, etc.) very severe or intense.

3. very fast or rapid.

   a blistering pace.

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noun

1. the act or an instance of forming a blister or blisters.

2. a series or group of blisters, as on a painted surface.

blistering British  

/ -trɪŋ, ˈblɪstərɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of weather) extremely hot

2. (of criticism) extremely harsh

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Other Word Forms

• blisteringly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of blistering

First recorded in 1555–65; blister + -ing ²

Explanation

Use the adjective blistering to mean extremely hot. You might love living in Georgia, except for the blistering heat in the summer time. A baker has to remove her loaves of bread carefully from the oven because of the blistering heat. You can also use blistering to mean a different kind of heat: "Her blistering criticism took him by surprise." Or a racer might set out on a track at a blistering pace, one that's incredibly fast or impressive. The original, hot meaning of blistering comes from the idea that something is "hot enough to form blisters."

Example Sentences

Gold’s blistering start to the year now feels like a distant memory.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

Then we had Elena Kagan, in a blistering dissent, reading those words into the record.

From Slate • Jun. 25, 2026

U.S. stocks ended the week higher, despite a pullback in certain highflying areas of tech after a blistering rally.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 14, 2026

Four years later, he was at his blistering best, an unstoppable blend of pace, skill and ruthless finishing heralding him the best player on the planet.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

She endured harsh nineteenth-century medical treatments like bloodletting and blistering.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• fiery
• heated
• scalding
• scorching
• searing
• sizzling
• sweltering
• torrid