SCATHING Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'scathing' contrast with its synonyms?

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

Q: When might 'acrid' be a better fit than 'scathing'?

The synonyms acrid and scathing are sometimes interchangeable, but acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence. // acrid invective

Q: When is it sensible to use 'caustic' instead of 'scathing'?

In some situations, the words caustic and scathing are roughly equivalent. However, caustic suggests a biting wit. // caustic comments

Q: Where would 'mordant' be a reasonable alternative to 'scathing'?

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

scathing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈskā-ṯẖiŋ

Definition of scathing

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scathing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scathe

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective scathing contrast with its synonyms?

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

When might acrid be a better fit than scathing?

The synonyms acrid and scathing are sometimes interchangeable, but acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence.

acrid invective

When is it sensible to use caustic instead of scathing?

In some situations, the words caustic and scathing are roughly equivalent. However, caustic suggests a biting wit.

caustic comments

Where would mordant be a reasonable alternative to scathing?

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of scathing

Adjective

Still, Fauci faced scathing criticism from Republicans during the hearing. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 31 July 2026 But when the court was closely split in major cases, Kennedy was likely to be in majority while Scalia wrote scathing and increasingly personal dissents. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

Verb

With tight polls, and without any one candidate being able to boast about the president's endorsement, the three Republicans have tried to boost their candidacies by resorting to scathing personal attacks. — Emily Chang, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026 Victoria's son, Brooklyn, called out the pop star and David Beckham in a series of scathing Instagram stories. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scathing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scathing

Adjective

Binface, who was first to declare and already a running joke in British elections, drew the most attention because of his satirical spin on politics and persona as a space alien from the planet Sigma IX.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Outlandish costumes Binface is just one in a long line of satirical candidates dating back more than six decades, who have become a unique staple of British elections.

— Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of satiric

Verb

So too are there similarities to the Brentford side that came up under Thomas Frank, given their set-piece credentials and attacking variety.

— Liam Tharme, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Fishback has been aggressively attacking Donalds over his politics and his race while holding rallies across the state drawing crowds of young men motivated by his hard-right campaign promises.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacking

Adjective

Meanwhile, Rogen and Nanjiani manage to steal multiple scenes as the voices of the ladies’ cats Dio and GG, two sarcastic felines who are fed up with their burnout owners.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
This was Perez Hilton, after all, a man who had earned fame in the mid-two-thousands for his salacious, sarcastic, and often sadistic coverage of celebrity suffering.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sarcastic

Verb

The film also depicts Gorbachev as something of a drama queen during the meetings, slamming the table and raising his voice.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
The active tropics comes on the 22nd anniversary of Hurricane Charley slamming into Florida, the beginning of one of the worst hurricane years in the state’s history.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of slamming

Adjective

Light tubes, chains, scaffolds, chairs and a barbed wire table all made an appearance.

— Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Instead of trying to locate bears in the wild, the survey relies on hair samples collected in barbed wire traps, which can be used to identify individual bears based on their DNA.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of barbed

Verb

Rather than scolding parents about screens, society could do more to support families in ways that obviate the need for screen time.

— Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
Do not punish your dog by scolding or yelling at them, as this may make your dog's behavior worse out of fear or stress.

— Madeline Gunderson, USA Today, 28 July 2026

Definition of scolding

Verb

In a press conference after the hearing, officials sent their condolences to Thompson’s family, while excoriating those who glorified Mangione.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
The rules governing red cards are sacrosanct in the international game, and Belgium were joined by legions of federations, fans, pundits, heads of state and former referees in excoriating FIFA for the decision to let Balogun play.

— Julian Cardillo, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026

Definition of excoriating

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scathes

scathing

scatological

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“Scathing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scathing. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scathing

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verb

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