Dictionary
scathing
adjective
: very harsh or severe
Full Definition of SCATHING
: bitterly severe <a scathing condemnation>
— scathingly adverb
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First Known Use of SCATHING
1794
Related to SCATHING
Synonym Discussion of SCATHING
caustic, mordant, acrid, scathing mean stingingly incisive. caustic suggests a biting wit <caustic comments>. mordant suggests a wit that is used with deadly effectiveness <mordant reviews of the play>. acrid implies bitterness and often malevolence <acrid invective>. scathing implies indignant attacks delivered with fierce severity <a scathing satire>.
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