scathing
adjective
scath·ing ˈskā-ṯẖiŋ 
: bitterly severe
a scathing condemnation
scathingly adverb
Synonyms
- acerb
- acerbic
- acid
- acidic
- acidulous
- acrid
- barbed
- biting
- caustic
- corrosive
- cutting
- mordant
- pungent
- sarcastic
- sardonic
- satiric
- satirical
- scalding
- sharp
- smart-aleck
- smart-alecky
- smart-mouthed
- snarky
- tart
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a scathing review of the book a scathing rebuttal of the latest theory concerning the assassination
Recent Examples on the Web Times—10 years after the newspaper famously gave his Times Square restaurant a scathing 1-star review—Fieri remains humble. 
Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 By 2019, that cost had tripled, to more than $10 billion, according to another scathing safety review. Elizabeth Koh, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022 The Oregon Supreme Court in 2016 previously sided with a consumer who wrote a scathing online review of a wedding venue, but only after determining the man had posted his negative opinions, not assertions of fact. oregonlive, 7 July 2022 The move to give more power to the advisory board, in addition to a host of other changes, came from recommendations laid out by consulting firm SNA International in a scathing review of the agency in December. Emily Davies, Washington Post, 2 June 2022 Fewer than 24 hours after a scathing grand jury report recommended the dismissal of four current Broward County School Board members, the 18-year-old opponent of one of those School Board members pounced. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2022 Earlier this year, for example, the California State Auditor issued a scathing report showing 185 men and women died while they were incarcerated in San Diego County jails between 2006 and 2020. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2022 The federal government is on the precipice of releasing what’s expected to be a scathing report about safety failures at the T that may demand more disruptions. Taylor Dolven, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2022 Guttierez has worked in the Uvalde school district for more than 20 years, although 2021-2022 was her first year serving as Robb Elementary principal, according to a scathing report on the handling of the shooting from Texas lawmakers. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 26 July 2022 See More
Ana Calderone, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 By 2019, that cost had tripled, to more than $10 billion, according to another scathing safety review. Elizabeth Koh, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2022 The Oregon Supreme Court in 2016 previously sided with a consumer who wrote a scathing online review of a wedding venue, but only after determining the man had posted his negative opinions, not assertions of fact. oregonlive, 7 July 2022 The move to give more power to the advisory board, in addition to a host of other changes, came from recommendations laid out by consulting firm SNA International in a scathing review of the agency in December. Emily Davies, Washington Post, 2 June 2022 Fewer than 24 hours after a scathing grand jury report recommended the dismissal of four current Broward County School Board members, the 18-year-old opponent of one of those School Board members pounced. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2022 Earlier this year, for example, the California State Auditor issued a scathing report showing 185 men and women died while they were incarcerated in San Diego County jails between 2006 and 2020. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2022 The federal government is on the precipice of releasing what’s expected to be a scathing report about safety failures at the T that may demand more disruptions. Taylor Dolven, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2022 Guttierez has worked in the Uvalde school district for more than 20 years, although 2021-2022 was her first year serving as Robb Elementary principal, according to a scathing report on the handling of the shooting from Texas lawmakers. Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 26 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1794, in the meaning defined above
scathing 1 of 2
adjective
as in satiric
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
Relevance
- satiric
- sarcastic
- satirical
- barbed
- sardonic
- acidic
- caustic
- acerbic
- acid
- biting
- snarky
- acrid
- pungent
- scalding
- corrosive
- mordant
- ironic
- cutting
- cynical
- trenchant
- harsh
- sharp
- tart
- acidulous
- blunt
- concise
- incisive
- poignant
- wry
- smart-alecky
- ironical
- acerb
- smart-mouthed
- sour
- flippant
- smart-aleck
- vitriolic
- pithy
- spiky
- brisk
- terse
- curt
- dry
- severe
- succinct
- cross
- facetious
- brusque
- gruff
- acrimonious
- bitter
- sharp-tongued
- tongue-in-cheek
- stringent
- abrupt
- snippy
- backhanded
- keen
- resentful
- crisp
- sourish
- spikey
- insincere
- snippety
- tartish
- brusk
- rough
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amusing
- playful
- waggish
- mild
- merry
- droll
- gentle
- bland
- sportive
- diplomatic
- polite
- smooth
- urbane
- suave
- gracious
- good-humored
- good-natured
- cordial
- hospitable
- affable
- genial
- sociable
scathing
2 of 2verb
as in attacking
to criticize harshly and usually publicly newspaper cartoonists scathed the lecherous governor with a series of cruel caricatures Synonyms & Similar Words
- attacking
- slamming
- scolding
- excoriating
- criticizing
- insulting
- blasting
- lambasting
- savaging
- abusing
- assailing
- castigating
- bashing
- cursing
- trashing
- vituperating
- tying into
- harassing
- disparaging
- berating
- belaboring
- sailing into
- reviling
- beating up on
- reprimanding
- potshotting
- lighting into
- jumping (on)
- haranguing
- belittling
- harrying
- affronting
- blaspheming
- execrating
- chiding
- slandering
- whipping
- fulminating
- slurring
- chastising
- imprecating
- vilifying
- aspersing
- rebuking
- libeling
- profaning
- traducing
- blackguarding
- bad-mouthing
- libelling
- putting down
- lashing (out)
- lacing (into)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praising
- commending
- complimenting
- lauding
- hailing
- acclaiming
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of scathing are acrid, caustic, and mordant. While all these words mean "stingingly incisive," scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity.
a scathing satire
The synonyms acrid and scathing are sometimes interchangeable, but acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.
acrid invective
In some situations, the words caustic and scathing are roughly equivalent. However, caustic suggests a biting wit.
caustic comments
The words mordant and scathing are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness.
mordant reviews of the play
- jack spool
- jack staff
- jack stand
- jack stringer
- jack timber
- jack tree
- jack truss
- jack up
- jack wax
- jack weight
- jack yard
- jack-a'-lantern
- jack-a-dandies
- jack-a-dandy
- Jack-a-Lent
- Jack-by-the-hedge
- Jack-fool
- jack-hunting
- jack-in-a-bottle
- jack-in-a-box
- jack-in-office
- jack-in-the-box
- jack-in-the-boxes
- Jack-in-the-Green
- jack-in-the-greens