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

"But when the master of the house came and saw our clerk, and heard how it had all happened, he said,— "'Harm watches while men sleep; but man's scathe is the worst scathe.

From Tales from the Fjeld A Second Series of Popular Tales by P. Chr. Asbj?rnsen

Since that time, its scattered beams, refracted by broader surfaces, have, nevertheless, continued to scathe wherever they have fallen.

From Cotton is King, and Pro-Slavery Arguments Comprising the Writings of Hammond, Harper, Christy, Stringfellow, Hodge, Bledsoe, and Cartrwright on This Important Subject by E. N. Elliott

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

On my bright bronde; Shalt thou never awayte me scathe By water ne by lande.

From Ballads of Robin Hood and other Outlaws Popular Ballads of the Olden Times - Fourth Series by Frank Sidgwick

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

Helplessness melts into righteous rage as you type some scathing retort, as loneliness gives way to the metallic taste of parasocial satisfaction as the likes and reposts flood in.

From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026

Worryingly for European governments, though, Schmidt is scathing on their prospects and how far behind the U.S. and China they have fallen.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026

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

District Judge Beryl A. Howell of Washington issued a scathing ruling that required the Trump administration to vacate the building.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

The past week or so, Percy had imagined a lot of scathing things he might say to Nico when they met again, but the guy looked so frail and sad, Percy couldn’t muster much anger.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

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