flayed; flaying; flays
1
: to strip off the skin or surface of : skin
The hunter flayed the rabbit and prepared it for cooking.
2
: to criticize harshly : excoriate
He was flayed by the media for his controversial comments.
3
: lash sense 1b
The wind whipped up to gale fury, flaying his face …—
Richard Kent
Richard KentExamples of flay in a Sentence
her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping
flayed their kill right there in the forest, taking both the meat and the skin home
Recent Examples on the Web
Dent remarks that his stuffed hams, flayed open, stuffed with greens and steamed til they are cooked through, are a source of pride for the restaurant.
—Katie Riley, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
Smoking in a raffish suit like a film noir baddie with a shock of red hair ready to torch the world, Noble’s Richard employs a dusky, ironic voice to flaying effect.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026
The apostle was believed to have met his martyrdom by being flayed alive.
—Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
And So It Is reaches out: affective, intimate, and flayed open with a beating heart.
—Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flay
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Katie Riley, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
Smoking in a raffish suit like a film noir baddie with a shock of red hair ready to torch the world, Noble’s Richard employs a dusky, ironic voice to flaying effect.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2026
The apostle was believed to have met his martyrdom by being flayed alive.
—Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
And So It Is reaches out: affective, intimate, and flayed open with a beating heart.
—Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flay
Cite this Entry
“Flay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flay. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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