Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely harsh, severe, and critical: Expressing strong disapproval or scorn in a way that is intended to hurt or damage the subject's reputation or feelings. It implies a cutting, biting quality to the criticism.

Usage

• Primary Use: Used to describe speech, writing, or judgment (e.g., criticism, remarks, review, attack) that is witheringly severe and scornful.
• Typical Constructions: Often followed by words like "criticism," "review," "attack," "indictment," or "remarks." It can also be used with "of" (e.g., scathing of something/someone).

Examples

• The film critic wrote a scathing review that devastated the director.
• Her scathing remarks about his performance left him speechless.
• The report was a scathing indictment of the company's environmental policies.
• He is known for his scathing wit during political debates.

Advanced Usage

• "To be scathing in one's criticism": To criticize in an extremely harsh and unsparing manner.
  • The committee was scathing in its criticism of the proposed budget.
• "To deliver a scathing rebuke": To give a formal expression of sharp disapproval or censure.
  • The ambassador delivered a scathing rebuke to the hostile government.

Variants and Related Words

• Scathingly (adverb): In a scathing manner.
  • She spoke scathingly about the lack of progress.
• Scathe (verb, archaic): To harm or injure, especially by fire; to scorch. (Note: This is the root verb, but "scathing" is now almost exclusively used as an adjective.)

Synonyms

• Vitriolic: Filled with bitter criticism or malice.
• Caustic: Bitterly sarcastic; capable of burning or corroding.
• Mordant: (Especially of humor) having or showing a sharp or critical quality; biting.
• Trenchant: Vigorous or incisive in expression or style.
• Searing: (Of criticism) very harsh or intense.

Antonyms

• Complimentary: Expressing praise or admiration.
• Mild: Not severe, harsh, or extreme.
• Gentle: Moderate in action, effect, or degree; not harsh or severe.

Idioms and Phrases

• A scathing attack: A very harsh and critical verbal assault.
  • The editorial was a scathing attack on the mayor's integrity.
• To lay into someone scathingly: To criticize someone very harshly and at length.
  • During the meeting, she laid into the project manager scathingly for the missed deadlines.

Adjective

1. marked by harshly abusive criticism
   • his scathing remarks about silly lady novelists
   • her vituperative railing