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
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.
—
Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 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
Mitt Romney favored raising it to 68 in his 2012 campaign for president, but by the 2024 campaign, Nikki Haley was excoriated for suggesting any increase at all.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
One year after Vice President JD Vance excoriated European leaders and accused them of sidelining far-right parties, Rubio’s politer tone came as a relief to many in the audience.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Over the past two weeks, three federal judges in Orlando have ordered the immediate release of immigrants from the jail and excoriated prosecutors for arguing that a law addressing people stopped at the border allows ICE to indefinitely lock up people already living in the country.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
In a letter to the state senator, obtained by The Star, the groups excoriated Hall’s nomination on four counts.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
The lower house in the Dutch parliament approved a plan to scrap bonus restrictions for most financial sector staff, a major step in softening a rule that has long been excoriated by the industry.
—Sarah Jacob, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 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
Mitt Romney favored raising it to 68 in his 2012 campaign for president, but by the 2024 campaign, Nikki Haley was excoriated for suggesting any increase at all.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
One year after Vice President JD Vance excoriated European leaders and accused them of sidelining far-right parties, Rubio’s politer tone came as a relief to many in the audience.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Over the past two weeks, three federal judges in Orlando have ordered the immediate release of immigrants from the jail and excoriated prosecutors for arguing that a law addressing people stopped at the border allows ICE to indefinitely lock up people already living in the country.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
In a letter to the state senator, obtained by The Star, the groups excoriated Hall’s nomination on four counts.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
The lower house in the Dutch parliament approved a plan to scrap bonus restrictions for most financial sector staff, a major step in softening a rule that has long been excoriated by the industry.
—Sarah Jacob, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excoriated
Verb
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Iran, Israel and the United States also have attacked oil and gas facilities since the war started, worsening supply concerns.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Its national oil company declared force majeure after the country’s sole oil refinery was attacked.—
Elaine Kurtenbach,
Fortune,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Knicks would beat the Magic, but Orlando’s physicality has irritated New York over the past two seasons.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
For a long time your political cartoons published in the editorial pages have irritated me.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has taken steps to improve relations with North Korea, but North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has slammed the overtures and laid out his vision for more nuclear development.—
Soo-hyang Choi,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Foster immediately checked out of the game, slammed his fist on a chair and screamed when trainers probed at his right foot, then went back to Duke’s locker room.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
New York defenseman Uhro Vaakanainen, in action after being scratched for five games, saw 15 minutes and 18 seconds of ice time.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
New York defenseman Uhro Vaakanainen, in action after being scratched for five games, saw 15 minutes and 18 seconds of ice time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Zambrano’s case, Gee scolded the government over how the detention unfolded.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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He is being groomed, playing, testing boundaries and even being scolded which are all part of normal social learning for young macaques.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for attacks on neighboring countries, but hard-liners criticized that and said the war strategy would continue.—
Cara Anna,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Army vehicles carrying the launchers and other equipment arrived past midnight in a highly secretive mission criticized by residents.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excoriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriated. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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