excoriate

[ik-skawr-ee-eyt, -skohr-]

verb (used with object)

excoriated, excoriating 

1. to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally.

   He was excoriated for his mistakes.

2. to strip off or remove the skin from.

   Her palms were excoriated by the hard labor of shoveling.

excoriate

/ ɪkˈskɔːrɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. to strip (the skin) from (a person or animal); flay

2. med to lose (a superficial area of skin), as by scratching, the application of chemicals, etc

3. to denounce vehemently; censure severely

Other Word Forms

• excoriation noun
• unexcoriated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excoriate¹

Late Middle English, from Late Latin excoriātus (past participle of excoriāre “to strip, skin or bark”). See ex- ¹, corium, -ate ¹; excoriate def. 2 was first recorded in 1375–1425, and excoriate def. 1 was first recorded in 1880–85.

Word History and Origins

Origin of excoriate¹

C15: from Late Latin excoriāre to strip, flay, from Latin corium skin, hide

Example Sentences

However, the chastening defeat by world number nine Rybakina, who hit the Briton off court with a flurry of excoriating winners, was a reminder of how she still needs to improve.

From BBC

In case anyone missed the viral video that has made him something of a folk hero to many in D.C. and around the country, Dunn loudly excoriated a small group of U.S.

From Salon

Aid groups and governments have excoriated the GHF’s efforts as paltry, inefficient and haphazard.

From Los Angeles Times

Encouraged to reveal themselves “authentically,” stars can find themselves prodded by fans to comment on current events and excoriated when they refuse or respond in a way that certain followers consider insincere or politically incorrect.

From Los Angeles Times

It is excoriating about the care Mr Holmes received.

From BBC

Related Words

• berate 
• castigate 
• chastise 
• condemn 
• lambaste 
• lash 
• rebuke 
• reproach 
• revile 
• scold 
• tear into 
• upbraid 
• vilify 

When To Use

What does excoriate mean?

Excoriate means to harshly scold, criticize, denounce, or express intense disapproval of someone or something.Excoriating someone often involves the severest possible tone and words.This sense of excoriate is based on its original, literal meaning: to strip off or remove the skin from an animal or person. The skin on your hands might be excoriated from hard yard work, for example.The word flay can be used as a synonym for both the figurative and literal sense of excoriate.In a medical context, excoriate means to scratch, scrape, or otherwise cause skin to be rubbed off or removed.The act or an instance of excoriating is excoriation.Example: She publicly excoriated her rival for his role in the scandal, criticizing him in the most extreme terms.