scathing
Americanadjective
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bitterly severe, as a remark.
a scathing review of the play.
-
harmful, injurious, or searing.
adjective
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harshly critical; scornful
a scathing remark
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damaging; painful
Other Word Forms
- scathingly adverb
Etymology
Origin of scathing
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.
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
Instead of the usual warm embrace and pledge of continued cooperation, Vance delivered a scathing indictment of their policies and their principles.
From Salon • Feb. 17, 2026
He gives her a scathing look, and she pouts.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
