searing

[ seer-ing ]

adjective

1. serving to burn or char the surface of something, especially of food in order to seal in the juices before cooking:

   Sizzle the rump steak over white-hot coals, under a searing grill, or in a blistering griddle pan.

2. burning or scorching:

   The charge exploded prematurely and the truck was engulfed in searing flames.

3. sharp, penetrating, and severe, like the feeling of being burned:

   For weeks now I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night with searing pain in my ankles.

   Her recent documentary was a searing indictment of the crimes of Stalinism.

4. withering or parching:

   Grass that’s allowed to grow long is like a living mulch, protecting and shielding the root system from the searing heat of summer.

5. leaving a permanent emotional scar:

   He was never to recover from the searing experience of what he saw in the war.

noun

1. the act of burning or charring the surface of something, especially of food:

   The searing of the vegetables and meat should be done over a very hot burner and with excellent ventilation.

2. the act of branding or marking with a hot iron:

   One of his arms was branded like that of a convict, the flesh still swollen from the searing of the iron.

3. the act of hardening or scarring emotionally, or the resulting condition:

   Were it not for the searing of their conscience, they would realize that what they’re doing is wrong.

4. sharp, penetrating, severe pain:

   I tried to ignore the searing in my muscles after hours of paddling against the current.

Word History and Origins

Origin of searing¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; sear ¹( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; sear ¹( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

Just as she is about to uncover a burning secret her family wants to keep hidden, a traumatic incident strains the town’s already searing racial tensions.

From Fortune

Pat your meat as dry as you can before cooking to limit the amount of splattering while you sear.

From Washington Post

When braising an animal protein, the first step is almost always to sear it in a hot skillet until nicely browned all over to start building flavor.

From Washington Post

The new menu from award-winning chef Mark Levy is revamped and approachable with an Eastern Shore lump crab cake, seared Maine scallops, and an autumn pork chop with grilled apples and bacon dressing.

From Washington Blade

They are variously loud, meditative, dramatic, witty, sexy, searing, and elegiac.

From The Daily Beast

Vlad was the searing example he needed to drive that point home.

From The Daily Beast

While shooting Syriana, he injured the base of the neck, leaving him in searing pain.

From The Daily Beast

I cupped my searing left cheek in my hand as I sobbed, muffling my mouth with the other so not to wake my daughter.

From The Daily Beast

Roosevelt had also stood with grace and courage against some of the most searing attacks aimed at anyone in public life.

From The Daily Beast

But abruptly he halted, a sudden thought searing its way through his brain.

From Project Gutenberg

They turned left, almost running in the teeth of that searing blast.

From Project Gutenberg

A crackling, searing bolt of blue-white energy leaped out of the tip of his index finger in a pencil-thin beam.

From Project Gutenberg

A searing white light seemed to explode before him; then blackness came and he knew no more.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a soul-searing flame of hate went through Alurna that her heart seemed to wither in its heat.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• baking
• blazing
• blistering
• fiery
• incandescent
• scalding
• scorching
• sizzling
• sweltering
• torrid