scathingly

Scathingly is an adverb describing the manner in which something is done—in a harsh, caustic, or severely critical way. It typically modifies verbs or entire clauses to intensify condemnation or disdain.

Origin: It is formed from the adjective scathing, which means intensely critical or damaging. The suffix -ly creates adverbs in English, so scathingly literally means "in a scathing manner."

Usage: Scathingly appears in journalism, literary criticism, and public discourse to convey a notably harsh assessment. Examples: "The reviewer scathingly dismissed the film," or "The editorial scathingly condemned the policy." It signals a direct, unsparing tone.

Nuance: The term conveys not just disagreement but biting fault-finding or contempt. It is relatively formal and emphatic; in casual speech speakers may choose sharper or harsher synonyms.

See also: scathing, the related adjective from which this adverb is derived.