searing

adjective

sear·​ing ˈsir-iŋ How to pronounce searing (audio)
1
: very hot
2
: marked by extreme intensity, harshness, or emotional power
searing pain
a searing review
a searing portrayal
searingly adverb

Examples of searing in a Sentence

the searing heat of the fire She felt a searing pain in her foot. She made a searing attack on her political enemies.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In a searing rebuttal days before the British socialite was convicted for procuring victims for Epstein’s abuse in December 2021, Comey spoke to the perverted duo’s reasons for targeting teens from disadvantaged backgrounds. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 17 July 2025 In a searing ruling against the Trump administration, a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate immigration arrests that advocates say have terrorized Angelenos, forced people into hiding and damaged the local economy. Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025 With Kyla Pratt in a searing lead performance and executive produced by Valeisha Butterfield’s SEED Media, the film follows Minda, a Black woman climbing the corporate ladder while confronting the invisible weight of racial and gendered politics. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 6 July 2025 Netflix continues to expand its reality TV universe, with The Ultimatum franchise returning for another searing test of love and commitment. Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for searing

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of searing was in 1678

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Cite this Entry

“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/searing. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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