searing
adjective
sear·ing ˈsir-iŋ 
1
: very hot
2
: marked by extreme intensity, harshness, or emotional power
searing pain
a searing review
a searing portrayal
searingly adverb
Synonyms
- ardent
- boiling
- broiling
- burning
- fervent
- fervid
- fiery
- hot
- piping hot
- red
- red-hot
- roasting
- scalding
- scorching
- sultry
- superheated
- sweltering
- torrid
- ultrahot
- white-hot
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the searing heat of the fire She felt a searing pain in her foot. She made a searing attack on her political enemies.
Recent Examples on the Web Temperatures are forecast to reach the low to mid-80s, with a chance of rain, providing a respite from the searing heat of the previous week. 
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Several deaths have already been attributed to the searing heat, including that of a 56-year-old construction worker in the city of Xi’an. Meredith Chen, NBC News, 28 Aug. 2022 In 2018, amid a searing drought and rising temperatures, some senior officials concluded that someone was stealing their water from the clouds. Alissa J. Rubin, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 From the icy caps of Earth to the edge of space, the sharp blade of war has cleaved through academic alliances already fraying under the strains of the pandemic and geopolitics, exposing a searing question with no easy answer. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 Construction took place at night to avoid the searing inner-canyon summer temperatures. Zachary Petit, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Aug. 2022 Murray Bartlett hit the jackpot with his role in HBO's The White Lotus, a searing satire of white privilege and entitlement from creator Mike White. Ew Staff, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2022 Through quiet but searing installations, artist Pritika Chowdhry reckons with violence that ripples through generations: mass displacement, rape and riots tracing back to the snaking borders that split a nation. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 Online shoppers are finally seeing lower prices for some goods, a sign the searing inflation that has scorched the U.S. economy may be starting to cool. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 See More
Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Several deaths have already been attributed to the searing heat, including that of a 56-year-old construction worker in the city of Xi’an. Meredith Chen, NBC News, 28 Aug. 2022 In 2018, amid a searing drought and rising temperatures, some senior officials concluded that someone was stealing their water from the clouds. Alissa J. Rubin, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 From the icy caps of Earth to the edge of space, the sharp blade of war has cleaved through academic alliances already fraying under the strains of the pandemic and geopolitics, exposing a searing question with no easy answer. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 Construction took place at night to avoid the searing inner-canyon summer temperatures. Zachary Petit, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Aug. 2022 Murray Bartlett hit the jackpot with his role in HBO's The White Lotus, a searing satire of white privilege and entitlement from creator Mike White. Ew Staff, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2022 Through quiet but searing installations, artist Pritika Chowdhry reckons with violence that ripples through generations: mass displacement, rape and riots tracing back to the snaking borders that split a nation. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 Online shoppers are finally seeing lower prices for some goods, a sign the searing inflation that has scorched the U.S. economy may be starting to cool. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1
searing 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- boiling
- burning
- scorching
- hot
- molten
- scalding
- broiling
- sweltering
- roasting
- fiery
- heated
- red
- torrid
- superheated
- blazing
- warmed
- warm
- sultry
- white-hot
- fervent
- fervid
- glowing
- ardent
- sizzling
- piping hot
- seething
- red-hot
- ultrahot
- overheated
- igneous
- reheated
- tropical
- steamy
- feverish
- flushed
- toasty
- inflamed
- warmish
- enflamed
- muggy
- summery
- snug
- summerlike
- canicular
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cold
- freezing
- icy
- bitter
- frozen
- glacial
- arctic
- frigid
- chilly
- cool
- iced
- chill
- bone-chilling
- snappy
- wintry
- ice-cold
- frosty
- nippy
- snowy
- subzero
- algid
- wintery
- coolish
- cooled
- chilled
- shivering
- unheated
- subfreezing
- coldish
- refrigerated
- numb
- blizzardly
- benumbed
2
as in harsh
difficult to endure the undersecretary looked chastened as he listened to the congressman's searing rebuke Synonyms & Similar Words
- harsh
- brutal
- oppressive
- severe
- tough
- trying
- rough
- hard
- excruciating
- painful
- grim
- cruel
- heavy
- bleak
- murderous
- bitter
- grievous
- inhuman
- rugged
- crushing
- biting
- onerous
- agonizing
- burdensome
- unbearable
- grinding
- stiff
- discomforting
- forbidding
- unpleasant
- uncomfortable
- rigorous
- heartrending
- harrowing
- hardhanded
- heartbreaking
- strict
- austere
- overwhelming
- intemperate
- stringent
- inhospitable
- bad
- wearing
- wild
- inclement
- spartan
- tortuous
- hostile
- unendurable
- wretched
- intolerable
- insufferable
- comfortless
- insupportable
- disagreeable
- unfriendly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- light
- soft
- easy
- pleasant
- comfortable
- genial
- luxurious
- mild
- cozy
- friendly
- gentle
- peaceful
- moderate
- hospitable
- agreeable
- relaxing
- restful
- bearable
- temperate
- painless
- calm
- balmy
- tolerable
- snug
- reposeful
- endurable
- clement
searing
2 of 2verb
1
as in charring
to burn on the surface lightly sear the steaks, but don't cook them all the way through Synonyms & Similar Words
- charring
- scorching
- singeing
- baking
- lighting
- igniting
- inflaming
- enflaming
- scathing
- kindling
- scalding
- firing
- incinerating
- cremating
2
as in drying
to make dry the clear desert air is seared by the summer sun Synonyms & Similar Words
- drying
- scorching
- parching
- baking
- draining
- desiccating
- dehydrating
- evaporating
- withering
- dehumidifying
- shriveling
- shrivelling
- mummifying
- wizening
- air-drying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- washing
- wetting
- soaking
- flooding
- drenching
- drowning
- saturating
- watering
- overflowing
- inundating
- bathing
- dousing
- sopping
- moistening
- dampening
- damping
- deluging
- hydrating
- sousing
- dipping
- submerging
- swamping
- waterlogging
- humidifying
- dunking
- dowsing
- rehydrating