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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Since the Whitney Biennial was founded in 1932, art-world denizens and casual observers alike have relished the opportunity both to champion and excoriate the slates of artists put forward.
—
Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2026
Craig Aaron, the co-CEO of Free Press, a consumer advocacy group, excoriated the potential WBD-Paramount merger, warning of dire consequences for the news media.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
The president often has chosen a combative approach, even excoriating Democrats during the bipartisan prayer breakfast this year, Upton noted.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Woodcutters sets forth the musings of a narrator sitting in an armchair at a dinner party who excoriates the literary awards establishments of his native land (and by extension all lands that are host to a robust bourgeoisie).
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excoriate
Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2026
Craig Aaron, the co-CEO of Free Press, a consumer advocacy group, excoriated the potential WBD-Paramount merger, warning of dire consequences for the news media.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
The president often has chosen a combative approach, even excoriating Democrats during the bipartisan prayer breakfast this year, Upton noted.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Woodcutters sets forth the musings of a narrator sitting in an armchair at a dinner party who excoriates the literary awards establishments of his native land (and by extension all lands that are host to a robust bourgeoisie).
—Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excoriate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excoriate
Verb
-
The American always had the engine and work rate to flit between defensive and attacking duties in a central midfield berth.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Santos and Langdon both attack things pretty head on.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Since many pregnant and postpartum women either struggle with or are recovering from a weak immune system, even germs from sources as innocuous as a bidet can prove irritating.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
-
What’s more, the leaves contain oils that, when burned, irritate our airways.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On our hike, Jessie Krebs scolds her boots for sliding on a slick, house-size boulder.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2026
-
But the Commission's chairman, Brendan Carr, scolded Amazon last week, saying the company should focus on its own satellite efforts, rather than criticize SpaceX.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Phillips then allegedly rushed the officer, wrapped his arms around him and lifted him off the ground before slamming him onto the pavement, leaving the officer with a concussion and a head laceration.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Jezero is the crash site of an asteroid that slammed into Mars’s surface almost four billion years ago.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And for the president when he’s criticized about lifting the sanctions on Russia, to somehow turn around and blame Zelenskyy, blame Ukraine.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The Israeli military later posted a second message in Farsi, noting the head of Iran's judiciary was at the rally and criticizing Iran for blocking many from seeing their warning, as authorities in Iran have almost completely shut down internet access.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If a debt collector begins yelling, insulting or using offensive language toward you during calls, that behavior may qualify as harassment.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
People were insulting me, we Argentines like that, but with respect for everything.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excoriate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriate. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
