scathing

Scathing means witheringly scornful; severely critical. "The movie critic did not like the movie, and wrote a scathing review of it."

Scathing means harsh, mean. The term flaming someone means leaving a scathing remark or comment.

Chris Rock had some rather scathing remarks about President Bush.

Scathing refers to high temperatures and the corresponding burn damage they can cause. Scathing is also an adjective that applies to a particularly harsh language used in critiques. Supreme Court dissenting opinions can be especially scathing depending on the degree or implications of the final ruling.