scathingscath‧ing /ˈskeɪðɪŋ/ adjective 
a scathing attack on the government’s planned tax increasesscathing about He’s always been so scathing about psychiatrists.—scathingly adverb
WORD ORIGINscathing
Origin:
1700-1800 scathe ‘to harm’ (12-20 centuries), from Old Norse skathaEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- 'The New York Times' was particularly scathing about his performance.
- Bloom paints a scathing portrait of Meinke in her memoirs.
- Her new book is a scathing attack on American imperialism in Central America.
- The health department issued a scathing report on conditions in local hospitals.
- Their criticism was scathing.
- He was scathing in his criticism of colleagues whose work did not match these standards.
- His speech brought scathing opposition responses.
- How could you refute it when just the memory of his scathing comments made your eyes fill with tears?
- It rejected, in somewhat scathing terms, the owners' proposals for a combination of longer hours and lower wages.
- The scathing attack from consumer watchdogs comes only months after the introduction of a strict code of practice designed to improve services.
- The other approach worked with a scathing moral and religious attack on the concepts of hygiene and sanitation embedded in the legislation.
Longman Language Activatorintended to criticize someone or something
a critical statement, report, or description criticizes someone or something: · Critical remarks by a teacher can damage the confidence of children.highly critical (=very critical): · The government has just published a highly critical report on the state of the education system.
criticizing someone or something very strongly, because you think they are completely wrong or of very low quality: scathing attack/comments/report etc: · Her new book is a scathing attack on American imperialism in Central America.· The health department issued a scathing report on conditions in local hospitals.scathing about: · 'The New York Times' was particularly scathing about his performance.
a negative comment, report etc is intended to criticize someone or something, especially in a way that is unnecessary or unfair; a negative person has a tendency to criticize or complain about everything, especially when this is annoying or unfair: · The portrayal of working women in the media tends to be very negative.· You shouldn't let his negative comments get you down - he doesn't know what he's talking about.· I wish you'd stop being so negative all the time!
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a scathing attack on the government’s planned tax increasesCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a scathing remark criticizes someone or something very severelyscathing attack/remark/comment etc a scathing attack on the government’s planned tax increases (=a very critical one)· There were a lot of scathing comments about the film.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· The scathing attack from consumer watchdogs comes only months after the introduction of a strict code of practice designed to improve services.· Caldaire managing director Mike Widmer launched a scathing attack on the local authorities.
· How could you refute it when just the memory of his scathing comments made your eyes fill with tears?· Then at least she wouldn't have to endure the scathing comments of Mr Luke-perfect-Crawford down there.· The same old accusations, the same scathing comments.
a scathing attack on the government’s planned tax increasesscathing about He’s always been so scathing about psychiatrists.—scathingly adverb