Showing results for "searing"

• present participle of sear.

searing

American  

[seer-ing] / ˈsɪər ɪŋ /

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.

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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.

Etymology

Origin of searing

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

Explanation

When something is intense, it's searing. If you fall while roller skating, the searing pain in your leg is a sign that you've really hurt yourself. Searing comes from the verb sear, "burn or brand." The searing heat of the sun beating down on a sweltering day might make you seek relief in the icy cold ocean — it's that powerful. This adjective usually describes extreme heat or pain, but you can also use it for similarly intense criticism. Don't let your debate opponent's searing rebuttal fluster you!

Example Sentences

Scarlets back rower Taine Plumtree produced a searing break but could not claim his own kick to score while another Wales try went begging after a poor Lake pass to Wainwright.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026

Manufacturers slap the word “grill” on the packaging of all types of cookers, alongside images of steaks with sear marks, even if they don’t actually involve searing over a live fire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Meanwhile, a searing European heatwave continues to cause deaths and disruption, - with France recording its hottest day since records began in 1947, and the temperature in Paris and other areas above 40C.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Thirteen people died by drowning in searing temperatures in France over the weekend, with the heatwave set to intensify from Monday across much of Europe, forcing warnings and special measures.

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

He’s getting it and will soon gather the forces of his puny yet searing rejoinders, so I stand.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Related Words

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