Scathing: meaning and SAT practice

Scathing (adjective) means: Severely critical or harshly condemning in tone.

Scathing in a sentence

The critic gave a scathing review of the new film.

Similar: biting, harsh, caustic, cutting, withering. Opposite: praising, complimentary.

SAT-style practice: what does “scathing” most nearly mean?

The critic gave a scathing review of the new film.

As used in the sentence, “scathing” most nearly means

  1. weary
  2. biting
  3. pastoral
  4. irresponsible
Show the answer

Answer: B. “scathing” means: Severely critical or harshly condemning in tone. “biting” is the closest match in this sentence. The other choices are real SAT-level words, but none of them carries that meaning here.

On the digital SAT this is the “Words in Context” skill, about 7 of the 54 Reading and Writing questions. The test asks what a word means as used in the passage, so a word’s most common meaning is not always the answer. More of these, with full explanations, are on SAT Words in Context practice questions.

  • acrid: Having a bitter, unpleasant smell or taste.
  • astringent: Harsh or severe in taste, manner, or effect; causing contraction.
  • cacophonous: Making harsh, discordant, unpleasant sounds mixed together.
  • caustic: Chemically burning or severely critical and sarcastic.
  • inclement: Describing harsh or stormy weather conditions.
  • strident: Loud, harsh, and demanding attention in an unpleasant way.

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