scathing
adjective
scath·ing
ˈskā-ṯẖiŋ 
: bitterly severe
a scathing condemnation
scathingly
adverb
Synonyms of scathing
Examples of scathing in a Sentence
a scathing review of the book
a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination
Recent Examples on the Web
Invoking the Constitution and Scripture, the Texas district court judge wrote a scathing opinion ordering the release of 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father after the two were detained outside their home in Minneapolis in January.
—
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
The former cohost of The View criticized the daytime talk landscape in a scathing X post on Friday.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
China’s Hong Kong and Macau affairs office issued a scathing criticism of the Panama Supreme Court’s ruling that CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two Panama Canal-adjacent ports is unconstitutional—further ramping up international rhetoric surrounding the future of the gateways.
—Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Many of the scathing reviews (a generous sample of them here) sound like the reviewer attended the screening at gunpoint.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scathing
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Christopher Cann, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
The former cohost of The View criticized the daytime talk landscape in a scathing X post on Friday.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
China’s Hong Kong and Macau affairs office issued a scathing criticism of the Panama Supreme Court’s ruling that CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two Panama Canal-adjacent ports is unconstitutional—further ramping up international rhetoric surrounding the future of the gateways.
—Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Many of the scathing reviews (a generous sample of them here) sound like the reviewer attended the screening at gunpoint.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Cite this Entry
“Scathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scathing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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