as in satirical
marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings
a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in attacking
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
newspaper cartoonists scathed the lecherous governor with a series of cruel caricatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scathing
Ben Paviour, New York Times, 19 May 2025
The Republican infighting over President Donald Trump's sweeping budget proposal intensified Friday as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene launched a scathing public attack on several GOP colleagues, accusing them of sabotaging the party's slim House majority.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
Is his support of a serious book that is scathing about Israeli attacks in Lebanon in 1982 valid?
—David Benedict, Variety, 7 May 2025
Attorney Sheree Wright represents all of the defendants, but the Suns issued scathing remarks about her.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Adjective
But the industry’s busts were scathing and more enduring.
—Ben Paviour, New York Times, 19 May 2025
The Republican infighting over President Donald Trump's sweeping budget proposal intensified Friday as Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene launched a scathing public attack on several GOP colleagues, accusing them of sabotaging the party's slim House majority.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025
Is his support of a serious book that is scathing about Israeli attacks in Lebanon in 1982 valid?
—David Benedict, Variety, 7 May 2025
Attorney Sheree Wright represents all of the defendants, but the Suns issued scathing remarks about her.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scathing
Verb
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The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities recently launched a campaign attacking the governor for allowing the state’s overreliance on property taxes to worsen and for seeking to slash summer work programs that assist the state’s troubled youths.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2025
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Moyes is likely to spend the summer focusing on improving the squad’s attacking output.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2025
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All Systems Red is a legible introduction to Wells’ hyper-capitalist, playfully satiric galaxy.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Hundreds of drones being used as part of a Saturday night aerial light show in Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando appeared to be flying into position before several started falling from the sky before slamming to the ground, according to videos posted online.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
23 Dec. 2024
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His endorsement of the AfD came alongside a video of a far-right German commentator slamming the leading candidate to become Germany’s next chancellor, the conservative Friedrich Merz.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Still, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video after facing criticism from Democrats over her response to the town hall attendees' concerns.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
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The vibe, never exactly cheerful, and never leavened by a hint of even the most sarcastic sense of humor, takes a turn for the horrific one evening in the wake of the bawdy revels celebrating Tomek’s wedding.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The other eight prisoners who escaped from their cell and hopped the barbed wire fence to freedom have all been recaptured.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
29 May 2025
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Sneakers hang by their laces from barbed wire, dangling above two motorbikes.—
Stephanie Yang,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scathing. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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