excoriate

verb

ek-ˈskȯr-ē-ˌāt How to pronounce excoriate (audio)
Definition of excoriatenext
1
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly the mayor had hardly been in office for a month before she was being excoriated for problems of very long standing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to irritate
to make sore by continued rubbing the manacles had badly excoriated the prisoner's wrists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of excoriate Smullen’s campaign launched an anti-Constantino website that excoriates him for, among many other things, his past registration as a Democrat. — Michael Hill, Fortune, 12 June 2026 Jim Trusty, the lawyer for Rozier, excoriated the league after a hearing Wednesday that served as a status update on Rozier’s case, as well as the other three defendants who remain indicted alongside him. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 11 June 2026 In Israel, the drawdown of hostilities places additional pressure on Netanyahu, whose political base has repeatedly excoriated him as not doing enough to combat Hezbollah while being too weak to stand up to Trump. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 The fight boiled over on the Senate floor when a pair of Republican senators excoriated the court over its unanimous decision. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for excoriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excoriate
  1. attack
  2. irritate
  3. scold
  4. slam
  5. criticize
  6. insult
Verb
  • Investigators determined that a group of men had attacked him at his San Jose home and that one of them struck him in the face with the handle of a firearm, police said.
    — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 21 July 2026
  • Refineries are maxed out, especially after Iran attacked 30 Middle Eastern refineries during the course of the war.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • Indoor air can carry particles and gases that irritate growing lungs and airways, making breathing problems and infections more likely.
    — Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026
  • Formaldehyde can irritate our eyes, throats, noses and lungs, but can also cause cancer — suggesting that exposure to persistent wildfire smoke could become more toxic as time goes on.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Remake includes footage of Adrian urging his father to consider Carr’s offer, and gently scolding him for having passed up certain opportunities to make money—money that would have made the family's life better—off his filmmaking acumen.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
  • In February, a California judge reportedly scolded Meta’s own lawyers for wearing the smart glasses in court.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026
Definition of scold
Verb
  • Over the past several months, Taylor has accused Mortensen in court of stalking and, on one occasion, slamming her head into the dashboard of his truck.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
  • Skid marks showing that Medina slammed on his brakes and rapidly accelerated backward were also spotted.
    — Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 19 July 2026
Definition of slam
Verb
  • The rivalry between New York and Florida — and California and Florida, too — has also become heated as the wealthy have publicly criticized blue states and announced their decisions to relocate.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • The bodycam video also sparked reaction online, with several conservative accounts criticizing Hostin for invoking her legal background during the encounter.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of criticize
Verb
  • There isn’t a positive review in sight as the finders rip through strongly worded and insulting critiques from major music publications.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • In June 2022, Cuban authorities sentenced Otero Alcántara to five years in prison on charges including public disorder, contempt and insulting national symbols.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of insult

Browse Nearby Words

excommunications
excoriate
excoriated
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“Excoriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriate. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of excoriate for Spanish Speakers

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