searing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈsir-iŋ How to pronounce searing (audio)
Definition of searingnext
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

searing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sear
1
as in charring
to burn on the surface lightly sear the steaks, but don't cook them all the way through

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Adjective
In the searing Mediterranean summer, wildfires turn dangerous in minutes. — ABC News, 26 June 2026 That has given players an opportunity to rest and recover ahead of the next fixture, but some of those games have taken place in searing heat, which will have had its effect on players, especially if they are not used to playing in that climate. — Andy Jones, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Verb
Is there any bigger money shot than a city-sized flying saucer poised over the White House delivering a lethal laser blast of searing coherent light? — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 3 July 2026 Having a couple of spatulas on hand — one silicone, one metal — covers the full range of cooking tasks, from delicate eggs in a nonstick pan to searing burgers on cast iron. — Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for searing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for searing
  1. boiling
  2. harsh
  3. charring
  4. drying
  5. burning
  6. brutal
  7. scorching
  8. hot
Adjective
  • More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
  • Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Definition of boiling
Adjective
  • White settlers and frontier pioneers built vast, fenceless cattle stations, battling harsh environments and disease, embracing a hard-living culture that exists to this day.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Dish Soap Using harsh chemicals on the outside of your toilet bowl and fixtures is not recommended, according to Meagher.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026
Definition of harsh
Verb
  • If hearths had been built in the cave, underlying bones would have shown evidence of charring — but not a single bone out of the 4,500 studied was burned.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • That 18,379-acre fire burned for two weeks, largely charring grass over about a third of the island.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 3 July 2026
Definition of charring
Verb
  • Ensure the stain is fully gone before drying—once heat sets it in, removal becomes significantly harder.
    — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Keep a handful near your washing machine or drying rack for blouses, dresses, workout wear, or delicate pieces that should skip the dryer.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026
Definition of drying
Adjective
  • In the case of the cross-burning incident, there is no comparison to the Jussie Smollett case.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
  • Some people drove or walked by, staring, and a video of the cross-burning gained traction online.
    — Hallie Golden, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Definition of burning
Adjective
  • And Addy, perhaps the most brutal American Girl story, is enslaved.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • In January, the government suppressed huge nationwide protests in a brutal crackdown that left thousands dead.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of brutal
Verb
  • Rhode Islanders celebrated America's 250th anniversary at the Bristol Fourth of July parade despite scorching temperatures.
    — Nolan Rogalski, The Providence Journal, 5 July 2026
  • On the corner of West 31st Street and Seventh Avenue, right outside Madison Square Garden, the heat was scorching as the temperature inched to 100 degrees.
    — Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 4 July 2026
Definition of scorching
Adjective
  • July 4th will be far hotter than normal for many and will follow several days in a row of intense heat.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
Definition of hot

Browse Nearby Words

seared
searing
sears
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on searing

Nglish: Translation of searing for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All