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
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
Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
On a searing hot day in Mattiyarenthal, a village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, women farmers toil over chile pepper plants as their sharp, pungent scent fills the air.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
From searing and sautéing on the stove to popping them right in the oven for easy roasting, stainless steel pans are versatile and super durable, too.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for searing
Adjective
Gomes suggests grilling, baking, or pan-searing salmon (as well as other fish, such as cod or halibut) with olive oil, fresh herbs, and a generous squeeze of lemon to highlight its natural flavor.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026
On a searing hot day in Mattiyarenthal, a village in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, women farmers toil over chile pepper plants as their sharp, pungent scent fills the air.
—Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
Hot stones are added, one by one, as the air inside gets heavier, the heat searing the nose and the throat, the sweat starting in rivulets that turn into streams as the smell gets more intense, the heartbeat swells, the mind races.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
From searing and sautéing on the stove to popping them right in the oven for easy roasting, stainless steel pans are versatile and super durable, too.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for searing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for searing
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
Adjective
-
Accusations were made, lawsuits were filed, harsh words were spoken and feelings were hurt.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
It’s prized for sculpting a high-definition lip that holds up under the harshest red-carpet lighting.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its antenna is marked with charring and is missing a large chunk.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The finished pizza should have a thin crust with a puffy cornice around the edges, spotted with charring.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This interactive project looks at the impact of warmer, shorter winters on regions all over the country, from less ice fishing in Minnesota and fewer ski days in Colorado to drying reservoirs in the Southwest and more ticks and mosquitoes in the Northeast.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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Finding the right waterproof sandal is key, where quick-drying materials, durability, and customized comfort reign supreme.—
Lara Kramer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
Derrick White, who endured his third straight brutal shooting game (3-for-12; 1-for-8 from three), set up Tatum’s dagger with one of his two fourth-quarter offensive rebounds.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
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The right-hander, who signed a two-year, $22 million deal with a club option for 2028 in the offseason, has had a brutal start to his tenure with San Francisco (11-15).—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Blazers could not hold on after building a 65-59 halftime lead, an edge built by shooting a scorching 10-of-21 from 3-point range.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Wildfires are currently scorching acres of land in South Georgia and Northern Florida.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Provide afternoon shade for asters grown in hot climates.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
As a result, the wide, shallow bay, with its lacework of shoals and basins, grows hot and hypersaline, killing seagrass, fueling algae blooms and hurting the economy of the Keys.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Searing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/searing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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