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

"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

As a mother her child they love it; Guarding it well from scathe and loss They have stamped its side with a big Red Cross, And the white flag waves above it.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, November 4, 1914 by Various

Then stood up Gudbrand of the Dales and spake: 'Much scathe have we gotten now in our god; but, as he cannot help himself, we will now believe in the God in whom thou believest.'

From The Red True Story Book by H. J. (Henry Justice) Ford

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

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

"I guess you’d have to have an actress who was older, playing younger. I’m not quite sure what the rules are now. But I also wasn’t personally scathed by it."

From Fox News ● Nov. 22, 2021

And there were others its touch had scathed.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya

The video, set to pulsing music, delivering a scathing critique of the system that he once tried to reform.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

It isn’t hard to imagine that were he still alive today, his critique of most of the smartglasses on the market would be scathing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

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

Wheeler commended the bystanders who had tried to help Chiedza, but was scathing of drivers who had parked illegally on the narrow roads near the beach.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

This was a scathing criticism for a man who had just traveled three thousand miles to attend an abolitionist convention.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling