1
as in attacked
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
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Recent Examples of excoriated
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
One after another, residents excoriated the three men on council — David Fu, Paul Cheng and Michael Cao — claiming the trio protected Wang, while ignoring the calls from Councilmember Sharon Kwan to have a public discussion about the criminal charges.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The judge excoriated Iwamasa before imposing the sentence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 27 May 2026
Trump constantly excoriated Massie and endorsed his primary opponent Ed Gallrein and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth even campaigned with Gallrein on Monday.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 19 May 2026
In cities across the country, judges have excoriated both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and CBP, saying their officers used excessive force.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 7 May 2026
Kiffin was excoriated by fans and media for abandoning his team, but neither Chambliss nor his family begrudge the coach for leaving.
—Bomani Jones, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Longtime colleagues excoriated one another in internal town meetings.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Past presidents have met with popes and taken their criticisms on the chin, so to speak, but never has a president excoriated a pope in a public manner.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
One after another, residents excoriated the three men on council — David Fu, Paul Cheng and Michael Cao — claiming the trio protected Wang, while ignoring the calls from Councilmember Sharon Kwan to have a public discussion about the criminal charges.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The judge excoriated Iwamasa before imposing the sentence.
—City News Service, Daily News, 27 May 2026
Trump constantly excoriated Massie and endorsed his primary opponent Ed Gallrein and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth even campaigned with Gallrein on Monday.
—Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 19 May 2026
In cities across the country, judges have excoriated both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and CBP, saying their officers used excessive force.
—Lisa Song, ProPublica, 7 May 2026
Kiffin was excoriated by fans and media for abandoning his team, but neither Chambliss nor his family begrudge the coach for leaving.
—Bomani Jones, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
Longtime colleagues excoriated one another in internal town meetings.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Past presidents have met with popes and taken their criticisms on the chin, so to speak, but never has a president excoriated a pope in a public manner.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excoriated
Verb
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Three people were killed and 20 more people were attacked by bears across at least nine prefectures between April and June 2, according to public broadcaster NHK.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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During the Gaza war, the Houthis attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea — including ships with no link to Israel — to pressure Israel into lifting its blockade on the enclave.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Armenia’s pivot to the West has irritated the Kremlin, however.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
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It is expected that Mourinho will try to tighten control over leaks concerning internal dressing-room matters, something that has irritated the club this season — and which Alonso sought to tackle.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Additionally, Wallen was also slammed by several local figures.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
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Without hesitation, Towns drove past the 7-4 unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, and slammed home a finish.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The Dodgers’ game against the Pirates on Wednesday was the fourth Smith had missed since being scratched from the lineup Saturday with a stiff neck.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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Soler was scratched before Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of hip tightness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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The child, now 6 years old, only hears her full name when she's being scolded — though Kendra and Bill are currently trying to undo that pattern.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
27 May 2026
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Katie Porter scolded, Tom Steyer channeled Bernie.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Advocates have long criticized the conditions at the Aurora facility, and those complaints — alongside concerns that more facilities could open in the state — helped drive HB 1276’s contents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
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Bass has called for hiring more officers and defending her Inside Safe homelessness program, while Raman has criticized the cost of police raises, called for broader public-safety responses and argued that the city needs a more accountable and cost-effective homelessness system.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excoriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriated. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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