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Synonyms

scathing

American  
[skey-thing] / ˈskeɪ ðɪŋ /

adjective

  1. bitterly severe, as a remark.

    a scathing review of the play.

  2. harmful, injurious, or searing.

scathing British  
/ ˈskeɪðɪŋ /

adjective

  1. harshly critical; scornful

    a scathing remark

  2. damaging; painful

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • scathingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of scathing

First recorded in 1785–95; scathe + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Recently, the doctrine has come in for scathing criticism from commentators across the ideological spectrum.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

That’s the approach SoFi Technologies is taking in the face of a scathing short report, and it appears to be paying off.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Outsider art in every sense of the word, and laden with scathing political and social commentary, Purifoy’s installations morph and change in the elements.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

“We were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said in a scathing 6½-minute monologue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Loud and scathing, Draco Malfoy’s voice echoed around the courtyard.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.