What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
withering
Example
She gave him a withering look before turning away. [withering: adjective]
Example
His withering criticism left her feeling humiliated. [withering: adjective]
Example
The drought caused the plants to suffer a withering decline. [withering: noun]
scathing
Example
The movie received scathing reviews from critics. [scathing: adjective]
Example
She launched into a scathing attack on his character. [scathing: adjective]
Example
The hurricane left a scathing trail of destruction in its wake. [scathing: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scathing is more commonly used than withering in everyday language. Scathing is often used to describe harsh criticism or damaging situations, while withering is less common and often used to describe a cold or dismissive look or comment.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between withering and scathing?
Both withering and scathing are more formal words and are not typically used in casual conversation. They are more likely to be used in writing or formal speech, such as in a news article or a speech.
