SCORCHING Synonyms: 129 Similar and Opposite Words

scorching 1 of 2

adjective

as in boiling

having a notably high temperature we keep indoors as much as possible during the day so as to avoid the scorching summer heat

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scorching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of scorch

as in charring

to burn on the surface the picnickers kept scorching their marshmallows, deliberately sticking their skewers into the licking flames of the campfire

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in drying

to make dry weeks of drought had badly scorched the soil

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scorching

Adjective

Warships, mammoth bones and parts of ancient constructions all have emerged from the slumping waters of the Danube, the Rhine and other rivers in the scorching drought that has also disrupted trade, power and water supplies. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Enameled steel offers more design options but is prone to mineral buildup and scorching. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026 Yet on a scorching Monday afternoon, Ludlow sat alone at a streetside coffee shop in Eagle Rock, trying to account for how the biggest jazz event in Los Angeles history fell apart. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 The Palestinian boys and girls shout with delight at the bubbles floating in the scorching air of this hillside West Bank village. — Dina Kraft, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug. 2026 This one from Carve Designs is built with high support padding to complement any water sport, plus UPF 50+ sun protection to combat scorching rays. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2026 On a scorching August afternoon in south Texas, Bekah Hinojosa, the co-founder of the South Texas Environmental Justice Center, blasts the A/C in her car. — August 17, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026 Many Jewish community and political leaders have criticized her scorching criticism of Israel and comments that many see as antisemitic. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026 Problems concerning infrastructure, investment, distribution and regulation have all compounded the effects of Britain’s scorching summer, forcing the government to consider its plans for a water crisis more carefully. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 13 Aug. 2026

Verb

Apparent human skeletal remains, including a jaw with the teeth still attached, were found at Lake Mead on Sunday, officials said, as water levels sink to new lows amid a drought and scorching heat in the West. — Mark Osborne, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026 Stir and scrape the pan bottom frequently to prevent scorching. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026 Highs Friday topped out at a cool 79 degrees for Sacramento, 85 for Modesto, and only 91 for normally-scorching Fresno. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Pyroclastic flows – fast-moving clouds of scorching gas, ash, and rock – could devastate territory near the caldera. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026 The event unfolded against the backdrop of scorching summer temperatures and wildfires, and Spanish officials rolled out a large public safety campaign. — Suman Naishadham, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 The scorching temperatures and persistent droughts in June and July mutually reinforced each other to create a hot weather spiral, according to Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 Reviewers love these striped pants for their soft fabric that’s equal parts flattering and breathable, even in scorching temps. — Kate Boswell, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026 Offering optimal freedom of movement and endless styling, the Lomon Wide-leg Capri Pants instantly elevate any outfit while keeping you cool and comfortable on scorching travel days when any other bottoms start to cling. — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scorching

Adjective

More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.

— Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Definition of boiling

Verb

With that in mind, Le recommends flipping meat often to prevent charring.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026
Triple Char means that the barrels the bourbon was aged in were charred for three times as long as usual, which is supposed to bring out even more flavors from the wood (the charring process is really what makes bourbon bourbon, after all).

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 July 2026

Definition of charring

Verb

Determined to create a formula that wasn’t cakey, heavy, or drying, Brown infused her formula with hydrating ingredients.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
The Audi pair almost had a similar problem when Gabriel Bortoleto spun on a greasy but drying track that also caught out and wrecked Verstappen on the opening lap.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drying

Adjective

It’s been hot in Pasadena lately, and according to Cat Chen, the best way to deal with the heat is simple—have your friends over, keep the AC running, and serve a refreshing menu alongside a crisp white wine.

— Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Commerce production assistant Hailey Roy, who has 3C curls, actually skips a hot tool altogether.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of hot

Adjective

Prosecutors said some of the money was used for recruiting new members and purchasing Ku Klux Klan robes and materials for cross-burning ceremonies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Definition of burning

Adjective

These eruptions are cryovolcanic rather than conventional molten-rock eruptions.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
That electric arc generates enough heat to melt metal at a joint between two metal parts, which allows the two parts to be combined once the molten metal has solidified again.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of molten

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scorches

scorching

score

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“Scorching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorching. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of scorching

adjective

verb

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