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.

They can be scathingly ironic, alert to every hypocrisy that corroborates their cynical worldview, and even seductive in a perverse, power-mad way.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2026

Colbert had previously been scathingly critical of Trump on air.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 3, 2025

Similar promises came from Nigeria's Housing Minister, Ahmed Dangiwa, who spoke scathingly of "unscrupulous" individuals whose actions he said had resulted in the Jos school collapse and caused unquantifiable loss.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2024

The satirical black comedy-drama “Network” is a scathingly funny look at the not-so-ironclad ethics of television news in the 1970s, as producers saw the relationship between ratings, anger and bloodlust.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 23, 2022

“And you think you’ll be. able to do something for him?” asked Zabini scathingly.

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling