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.
Her viral speech in Minneapolis in 2020 remains one of the most searing indictments of state violence in recent memory. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025 Image ‘Eric LaRue’ Directed by Michael Shannon, this searing drama centers on Janice (Judy Greer), who struggles to cope after her son commits a school shooting. The New York Times, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025 Storms in the South can topple shade trees, opening yards to the searing summer sun. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025 The frantic search Biting mosquitoes and the searing touch of the sun woke Riibe up just before 9 a.m., prompting a drowsy trek back to his hotel room. Alaa Elassar, CNN, 24 Mar. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/searing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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