scathing

• IPA^(key): /ˈskeɪðɪŋ/
• Rhymes: -eɪðɪŋ

scathing

1. present participle and gerund of scathe

scathing (comparative more scathing, superlative most scathing)

1. Harshly or bitterly critical; vitriolic.
   • 2011 December 14, Angelique Chrisafis, “Rachida Dati accuses French PM of sexism and elitism”, in Guardian‎:

     For months, Dati warned she would refuse to stand aside. Now she has stunned the political class with an open letter to Fillon in Le Monde, a scathing character assassination accusing him of the "lone ambition" of a disillusioned political elite, of doing politics in a way that "never favoured women" and stopping ethnic-minority candidates from progressing at elections. She said he was committing "a sad mistake" in trying to run in Paris.

2. Harmful or painful; acerbic.

• scathingly
• scathingness

• chasting