scathe

American  

[skayth] / skeɪð /

verb (used with object)

scathed, scathing

1. to attack with severe criticism.

2. to hurt, harm, or injure, as by scorching.

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noun

1. hurt, harm, or injury.

scathe British  

/ skeɪð /

verb

1. rare to attack with severe criticism

2. archaic to injure

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noun

1. archaic harm

Other Word Forms

• scatheless
  adjective
• scathelessly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of scathe

before 1000; (noun) Middle English scath ( e ), scade, schath ( e ) < Old Norse skathi damage, harm, cognate with Old English sc ( e ) atha malefactor, injury (with which the Middle English forms with sch- might be identified); (v.) Middle English scath ( e ), skath ( e ) < Old Norse skatha, cognate with Old English sceathian

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Explanation

To scathe is to obliterate something as if you'd burned it to ashes — or to direct ferocious, fiery disapproval or anger in the direction of a person. The verb scathe is pretty old-fashioned; these days you're more likely to encounter the adjectives scathing and unscathed. The word derives from a root meaning "to harm or injure," and it was once used in both a literal and figurative way. Long ago, you might have scathed your old love letters by burning them in the fireplace, and then scathed your sister by telling her to get lost when she asked what you were doing.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scathe scathed scathing

I suggest an ibid of historians, a ponder of scientists, a scathe of bureaucrats.

From Time Magazine Archive

True to the law, of fame unstained, The glorious Daśaratha reigned, And, steadfast in his duty, long Kept the four castes550 from scathe and wrong.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin) Griffith

Nor scathe had he, nor harm, nor dread: But the same couch beneath, Lay a gaunt wolf all torn and dead, Tremendous still in death.

From Anecdotes of Dogs by Edward Jesse

“Ah, blessed are the people who Shall Ráma and his Sítá view, And Lakshmaṇ of the mighty arm, Returning free from scathe and harm.”

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin) Griffith

But must not the nature and the disposition suffer from the depression, and will the moral vigour take no scathe?

From John Ronge: The Holy Coat Of Treves New German-Catholic Chruch by Anonymous

Trilith Studios, one of the largest production facilities in North America, has been scathed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

"In the race to the bottom, France and Germany are leading the way in the September PMIs. Meanwhile, Spain and Italy are pulling through somewhat less scathed."

From Reuters ● Oct. 2, 2023

Exiting from the pandemic, the assumption might be that Noel’s students should be among the least scathed.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 9, 2023

"I guess you’d have to have an actress who was older, playing younger. I’m not quite sure what the rules are now. But I also wasn’t personally scathed by it."

From Fox News ● Nov. 22, 2021

I was in my own room as usual—just myself, without obvious change: nothing had smitten me, or scathed me, or maimed me.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez says he "spoke out of anger and frustration" when launching a scathing attack on the club's hierarchy.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

This scathing judgment only covers the years from 2009 to 2018, but no one thinks the actual or alleged fraud suddenly stopped after that.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

After a string of negative audits and a scathing court-ordered review, it’s no secret that the Los Angeles homeless services system has flaws.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

If you relish reading a critic pan a bad movie, then you’ll love Laura Miller’s scathing review of The Whisper Man, a ridiculous new thriller starring Robert De Niro and Michael Keaton.

From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026

The New York Times and The Washington Post, two of the most widely read newspapers in the country, were scathing.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

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