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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of searing
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2025
Briarcliff Entertainment has set a March theatrical release date for the Oscar-qualified documentary October 8, a searing examination of antisemitism that erupted after the Hamas terror attack on Israel of October 7, 2023.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025
At the end of the day, room could not be found for even Marianne Jean-Baptiste, a past Oscar nominee who swept the major critics awards for her searing turn in Hard Truths, or Angelina Jolie, a past Oscar winner and the A-lister of A-listers, who seemed an early front-runner for the biopic Maria.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025
Working for New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in California’s 1964 Republican presidential primary, the pair ran a searing campaign against Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, falling just shy of an upset.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for searing
Adjective
In Central Florida, there will be plenty of ways to celebrate King’s legacy, starting with Saturday’s parade in downtown Orlando and an early-morning observation in Groveland, scene of one of Florida’s most searing episodes of racial injustice.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2025
Briarcliff Entertainment has set a March theatrical release date for the Oscar-qualified documentary October 8, a searing examination of antisemitism that erupted after the Hamas terror attack on Israel of October 7, 2023.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025
At the end of the day, room could not be found for even Marianne Jean-Baptiste, a past Oscar nominee who swept the major critics awards for her searing turn in Hard Truths, or Angelina Jolie, a past Oscar winner and the A-lister of A-listers, who seemed an early front-runner for the biopic Maria.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025
Working for New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in California’s 1964 Republican presidential primary, the pair ran a searing campaign against Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, falling just shy of an upset.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 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
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If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
3 Dec. 2019
Adjective
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The 79-year-old Oscar winner embraces the challenging role of the Dutton family matriarch alongside co-star Harrison Ford, confronting everything from mountain lions to the harsh realities of frontier life.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2025
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Her lyric vocal writing contends with harsh reality, but her style is never far from profound rapture.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Ben Johnson has a ‘burning desire’ to be a head coach.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2025
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For answers to more burning questions about Season 2, plus Season 3 clues (including which Season 1 character will be coming back), read Deadline’s interview with The Night Agent showrunner Shawn Ryan.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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England’s Champions Trophy campaign finally came to a brutal end when they were beaten by South Africa in Karachi by seven wickets with almost 21 overs to spare.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
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The free chow was served daily, except on Fridays, and continued through a brutal period of industrywide cost-cutting that persists to this day.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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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
-
Provide afternoon shade or filtered sunlight in hot climates.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2025
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Season to taste with salt, and serve hot with coconut chutney, sambar, and pickles if desired.—
Meher Mirza,
Saveur,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This gripping series takes viewers into insidious modern-day cults through the unique lens of members who endured unspeakable trauma and the shocking investigations into these oppressive groups.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
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Dominic Frey is a member of the oppressive class and everything Silas should despise — but now their mutual discretion is all that’s keeping them from punishment for their crimes of passion.—
Olivia Waite,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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As previously reported, the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius released thermal energy roughly equivalent to 100,000 times the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, spewing molten rock, pumice, and hot ash over the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in particular.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
27 Feb. 2025
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Makky would make at least ten molds off the Steinbeck plaque, then cook them in a kiln at a thousand degrees, pour in molten nickel bronze, break the molds off, and water down the sand for reuse.—
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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