scathing

UK/ˈskeɪðɪŋ/US/ˈskeɪðɪŋ/

adjectiveC1Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #13,342 of 15,258leans written

Scathing means fiercely and woundingly critical. Not a complaint — an attack that leaves marks.

It attaches to criticism, attacks, reviews and remarks, and a scathing review is one an author remembers for life. The word implies both severity and skill, since a scathing attack is well aimed as well as harsh. It comes from an old verb scathe meaning to harm, which survives elsewhere only in unscathed, meaning unharmed. That pairing is worth noticing, since unscathed is far commoner than scathe itself.

Definitions of scathing

1adjectivescathingSeverely and woundingly critical.C1
“The report was scathing about the management.”

Practised in Sharper Adjectives, A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 7 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

scathing in the wild

Owing to its scathing criticism of bureaucratic authority, nationalism, and abusive labor practices, it is often described as an anarchist novel.
The Death Ship
A scathing contemporary description defined them as either personal enemies of Dom Miguel, or were simply acting out of self-interest.
Cartista
Following scathing criticism from the press for wasting a pick on damaged goods, the Broncos traded him to the Saints for Shawn Knight before the season.
Ted Gregory
Smith was known for his direct approach to game journalism and scathing criticism of the video game industry.
Luke Smith (writer)
The New York Herald declared in a scathing commentary: "Thanksgiving Day is no longer a solemn festival to God for mercies given.
1893 Princeton Tigers football team

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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