scathe

American  

[skeyth] / 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

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

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

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 Children's Literature A Textbook of Sources for Teachers and Teacher-Training Classes by Clippinger, Erle Elsworth

A groom rode the racehorse, who took no scathe from his thundering gallop of the day before.

From The Story of John G. Paton Or Thirty Years Among South Sea Cannibals by Paton, James

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 Jesse, Edward

Out of the night Crying to fright The earth he swoops to spoil— There is furious scathe in the whirl of his wrath, In his path There is misery and moil.

From Song-Surf by Rice, Cale Young

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

Even the industries where you’d expect to see significant job losses look barely scathed.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 3, 2023

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

In a speech last summer, Roger Alford, who served as Slater’s top deputy, made a scathing speech alluding to how business was done at the department.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

While the report reviews O'Brien's practice, it is scathing in how systems were managed, led and the lack of accountability from the health trust board.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

On Tuesday, Israel's state comptroller released a scathing report accusing successive governments of neglecting domestic weapons production and failing to maintain critical raw material reserves.

From Barron's ● May 16, 2026

The resurfacing of Kennedy’s claims has drawn scathing criticism from those in the medical community.

From Salon ● Apr. 21, 2026

Mad-Eye had always been scathing about Dumbledore’s willingness to trust people.

From "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling