eye-watering

adjective

eye-wa·​ter·​ing ˈī-ˌwȯ-tə-riŋ 

-ˌwä-

variants or less commonly eyewatering or eye watering

: causing the eyes to water

Those who suffer from allergies know the sometimes eye-watering effects of exposure to pollen or pet dander.

—Tanya A. Christian

This premium fire pit features smokeless technology for a more enjoyable outdoor fire experience without the eye-watering smoke.

—Christina Marfice

The spicy brown sauce is so hot it's eye-watering, but the dish bursts with fresh flavor.

—Heather Brannon

—often used figuratively to describe something extreme, excessive, intense, etc.

Television broadcast rights continue to fetch eye-watering sums …

—Leo Robson

Sleek boats, capable of eye-watering speeds …

—Pete Thomas

… the years of hard studying, internships and eyewatering debt required to emerge from college.

—Hugh Cameron

Examples of eye-watering in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Daytona is widely considered the most coveted model in the Rolex catalog, with the chrono commanding eye-watering prices on the secondary market. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026

Justice might be an understatement — the film went on to generate an eye-watering $401 million at the global box office upon its May release. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above