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
Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
And the dissents here from the liberals were scathing.
—ABC News, 29 June 2025
By far the most political of the three films, 28 Years Later is particularly scathing about Brexit Britain and its little-islander mentality.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 18 June 2025
Chinese social media reactions to news of the cleanup have been scathing.
—Karla Cripps, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for scathing
Adjective
Webb's decision also came before an internal auditor's scathing report released Feb. 27 noting nearly $4.6 million in contracts the hospital awarded for clinical and non-clinical expenses without board approval.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
And the dissents here from the liberals were scathing.
—ABC News, 29 June 2025
By far the most political of the three films, 28 Years Later is particularly scathing about Brexit Britain and its little-islander mentality.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 18 June 2025
Chinese social media reactions to news of the cleanup have been scathing.
—Karla Cripps, CNN Money, 17 June 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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The early glimpses show a player with real potential in the attacking third, capable of thriving in transition and striking well at goal.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The poem is part love quest, part account of Italy’s battles; in places profoundly serious, in places satiric.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
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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
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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Teaming up with Rebels like the enigmatic Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and the sarcastic droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), Jyn’s quest for salvation and redemption runs right up to the beginning of the original film, Star Wars: A New Hope.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
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Mamdani joined her for a sarcastic infomercial on her account, criticizing Mayor Adams’ record.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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The center was built in eight days and features more than 200 security cameras, 28,000-plus feet of barbed wire and 400 security personnel.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
4 July 2025
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Their prescription, Scaramucci warns, threatens to replace the American dream with a society where a small elite lives behind barbed wire in mansions, and ordinary people struggle for a decent living.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scathing. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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