1
as in boiling
having a notably high temperature
in our air-conditioned office, we were oblivious to the searing heat outside
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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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of searing
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
Joanna McClelland Glass’s searing new drama weaves a sophisticated psychological thriller about family bonds, betrayal, and the possibility of healing.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
The second series of Meghan Markle's cooking show has been hit by searing criticism from reviewers landing it an even worse Rotten Tomatoes rating than Season 1.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for searing
Adjective
The deftly comic and ultimately searing movie won the coveted Palme d’Or, setting Panahi on course for his first true awards run.
—Verb
Ditto the Hammer Studios output of the 1950s and ’60s, Bernie Wrightson’s definitive illustrations of the Creature, oodles of Gothic literature, Roger Corman’s Poe pictures, and Mario Bava’s retina-searing color creep shows.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for searing
Adjective
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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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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Bipartisan harsh criticism Senators from both sides of the aisle blasted the investigation.—
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Common exfoliators and fine line-eliminators like retinol and glycolic acid are too harsh on my skin, but this serum utilizes lactic acid, which is far more gentle but just as potent.—
Verb
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Five years ago, the Cameron Peak and East Troublesome wildfires ripped through Colorado’s northern mountains, charring more than 620 square miles across watersheds that provide water for hundreds of thousands of people who live along the Front Range.—
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By charring scallions and searing steak in the same skillet, every bite builds layers of savory, smoky flavor.—
Verb
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Spanx elevates its plain T-shirt by making it out of a buttery-soft, stretchable fabric that is moisture-wicking and quick-drying.—
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Vinegar can be drying, so remember to condition leather to keep it supple.—
Adjective
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Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
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Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Adjective
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Between wading or boating into choppy surf, baking in the hot sun, and getting doused in salty spray, the elements are brutal on the human body and the gear meant to withstand them.—
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Phạm Lockwood also spoke with Huan Nguyen, the sole survivor of a massacre of a South Vietnamese family in Saigon, a brutal attack allegedly orchestrated by Capt.—
Verb
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When Liverpool and Arsenal last met, in late August, a scorching late Dominik Szoboszlai free kick saw the reigning champions strike an ominous early blow in the title race, jumping three points ahead of their London rivals.—
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As scorching sunshine gives way to dusk, enthusiastic attendees transition from waiting in clusters to jumping in anticipation of the pop-rock superstar’s appearance.—
Adjective
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The layered neckline, with the bust peeking out from behind, imitates this season's hottest red carpet trend, the semi-visible bra.—
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The cameras were on and the mic was hot when Johnson rallied his team in the locker room following a 31-27 comeback victory.—
Cite this Entry
“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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