scathing

USAGE SUMMARY

"scathing" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective used to describe something/someone as sharply critical or censorious. Example Sentence: The customer's scathing review left a lasting impression on the restaurant's reputation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Q: We were scathing about the BBC's decision to buy Lonely Planet.

The Guardian

When Griffen requested a trade to GWS on Thursday, speculation rose that McCartney had lost senior Bulldogs, with long standing communication issues brought to a head by scathing post-season player reviews.

The Guardian - Sport

All day long, I do not meet a local who doesn't like Lucas, but I also don't meet anybody who isn't scathing about the council.

The Guardian

Louise Matthiesson, Greenpeace's Queensland campaigner, was also scathing.

The Guardian

Onstage, she's relentlessly scathing about her own appearance, though without ever straying into self-pity, while her sketches exist in an unforgiving world where women are judged fiercely for their looks and behaviour and often humiliated as a result ("I'm kind of putting myself through living a nightmare," is how she describes it).

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Luis Figo, who along with the Dutch FA president, Michael van Praag, withdrew from the presidential race in an attempt to coalesce support behind Prince Ali, was scathing in his criticism of Blatter after the result and called on him to quit.

The Guardian - Sport

The law lords were scathing in their summing up.

The Guardian - Opinion

Michael Dugher, MP for Barnsley East, who had served as a parliamentary aide to Miliband, is scathing about Labour's lack of awareness about the party's failings in its heartlands.

The Guardian

When the collection appeared in 1895, critics were scathing.

The Guardian - Books

Andreas Schleicher, director of the OECD's education directorate, was scathing about the country's "disappointing" performance, saying he had once viewed Sweden as "the model for education".

The Guardian

Powell is scathing about the conduct of the police who arrested the Labour fundraiser Lord Levy and the No 10 director of government relations, Ruth Turner.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scathing" to add impact when conveying strong disapproval or criticism. It suggests a harsh and often destructive tone.

Common error

Avoid using "scathing" when a milder term like "critical" or "negative" would be more appropriate. "Scathing" implies a high degree of intensity and can sound hyperbolic if overused.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "scathing" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe the intensity and severity of criticism. As Ludwig AI highlights, it indicates harshly critical or bitterly critical feedback.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "scathing" is used to describe something that is harshly or bitterly critical. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, and is often found in contexts related to News & Media. It's important to reserve "scathing" for situations where the criticism is genuinely severe and impactful, avoiding overuse in more neutral contexts. The related phrases offer several alternatives, such as "bitterly critical" or "harshly condemnatory", allowing for nuanced expression. Analysis of usage patterns reveals that the word appears most frequently in News & Media, with less frequent appearances in Encyclopedias or Wiki.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bitterly critical

Emphasizes the emotional intensity behind the criticism.

harshly condemnatory

Highlights the severity and judgment involved.

fiercely critical

Focuses on the intensity and passion of the critique.

severely censorious

Stresses the critical and fault-finding nature.

vitriolically abusive

Highlights the abusive and corrosive nature of the criticism.

devastatingly critical

Implies the criticism has a destructive impact.

unsparingly harsh

Indicates that the criticism is relentless and without mercy.

acidly derisive

Highlights the mocking and sarcastic tone of the criticism.

excoriatingly critical

Emphasizes the severe punishment and condemnation.

brutally honest

Focuses on the frankness, even if painful, of the assessment.

FAQs

How can I use "scathing" in a sentence?

You can use "scathing" to describe reviews, criticisms, or remarks. For example: "The critic wrote a "scathing review" of the play." or "She delivered a "scathing attack" on his policies."

What can I say instead of "scathing"?

You can use alternatives like "bitterly critical", "harshly condemnatory", or "fiercely critical" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "scathing" in formal writing?

Yes, "scathing" is appropriate for formal writing when you want to emphasize the severity of criticism. However, consider your audience and the overall tone of your piece.

What is the difference between "scathing" and "critical"?

"Critical" is a general term for expressing disapproval, while "scathing" implies a more severe and destructive form of criticism. "Scathing" remarks are intensely harsh and often intended to wound.