1
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature
in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harsh
difficult to endure
the undersecretary looked chastened as he listened to the congressman's searing rebuke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in drying
to make dry
the clear desert air is seared by the summer sun
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 searing
Andrea Williams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Pritzker’s speech, which occurred as national Democrats were largely leaderless in countering and criticizing Trump’s early chaotic presidential moves, aimed to fill the vacuum and garnered significant attention by offering a searing response to the president for a national audience.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
And first baseman Colby Thorndyke comes in with a searing swing.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Richard Gadd’s searing, semi-autobiographical dramedy — which appeared on the kudos scene a scant one month before the close of eligibility — went on to essentially sweep Limited Series categories at last September’s Emmys.
—Michael Ausiello, TVLine, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for searing
Adjective
Football is certainly another, which is why rapper Kendrick Lamar’s willingness to hold a mirror to America during his Super Bowl halftime performance was so searing in its power.
—Andrea Williams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Pritzker’s speech, which occurred as national Democrats were largely leaderless in countering and criticizing Trump’s early chaotic presidential moves, aimed to fill the vacuum and garnered significant attention by offering a searing response to the president for a national audience.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
And first baseman Colby Thorndyke comes in with a searing swing.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Richard Gadd’s searing, semi-autobiographical dramedy — which appeared on the kudos scene a scant one month before the close of eligibility — went on to essentially sweep Limited Series categories at last September’s Emmys.
—Michael Ausiello, TVLine, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for searing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for searing
Adjective
-
One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Scientific American,
3 Mar. 2020
-
If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
3 Dec. 2019
Adjective
-
The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Late-night talk shows across the board are facing the harsh reality that declines in ad revenue can’t make up for burgeoning production costs.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Tom Cruise has been awarded the Guinness World Record for most burning parachute jumps by an individual, netting a whopping 16 flaming jumps while filming Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
5 June 2025
-
The action star, 62, now has a Guinness World Records title for most burning parachute jumps by an individual, the organization announced Thursday, June 5.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
Southerners quickly learn how to survive brutal summer temperatures.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
-
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by USA Today, the 21-year-old approached a woman from behind at a self-checkout lane at a Walmart in Tennessee, and launched into a brutal attack.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
-
Stray animals are also at risk of suffering from heat exhaustion during scorching summers.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
Newsweek,
2 Jan. 2025
-
Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently to avoid scorching the milk.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Menu highlights include the hot honey chicken sandwich, loaded hot Nashville fries and classic hot tenders. Details: 8386 W. Thunderbird Road, Suite 103, Peoria.—
Endia Fontanez,
AZCentral.com,
22 July 2025
-
According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the two hottest days on record for Tennessee occurred less than two weeks apart in 1930.—
Joyce Orlando,
The Tennessean,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
In many areas along and east of the Mississippi River, heat index values could soar to between 110 and 115 degrees — the kind of oppressive heat that can quickly turn dangerous without proper precautions.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
-
Sweltering under a heat dome that brought oppressive triple-digit temperatures and humidity to large swaths of the Midwest and East Coast, average daily highs in Chicago topped 84.1 degrees in June, 3.7 degrees above normal.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Nestled in a warm, soft pretzel bun, this bold creation features a juicy beef patty surrounded by a bubbling pool of molten fondue cheese—rich, creamy, and irresistible.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
There, a mantle plume or upwelling — a pillar of unusually warm molten material — moves upwards, driving the division of these rifts and the opening of the ocean basin above.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share