EXCORIATED Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

excoriated

verb

past tense of excoriate

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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as in irritated

to make sore by continued rubbing the manacles had badly excoriated the prisoner's wrists

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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 excoriated Nearly five years ago, the district attorney of Onondaga County, William Fitzpatrick, stood up in court and excoriated his county’s decision decades earlier to prosecute Anthony Broadwater for the rape of author Alice Sebold. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 17 July 2026 Sheryl Crow excoriated Donald Trump‘s White House birthday bash, which included a UFC fight, in a post to her Instagram story on Monday. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excoriated

Verb

But the university’s recent actions in a lawsuit filed by a former student who was attacked on campus during that period appear at odds with that commitment.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Not long after Bungalow 8 opened, the World Trade Center was attacked.

— Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacked

Verb

In April, the Biennale art exhibition — run by the Venice Biennale Foundation, which also runs the film festival — was slammed for allowing Russia and Israel to mount shows in their pavilions.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Since then, Hochman has been slammed for playing politics, embarrassing his office and even backing down for no reason other than the pressure was too intense.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of slammed

Verb

It was previously listed as a potential site for the National Museum of the American Latino in 2022, but was scratched over concerns that the small exhibition space could only be expanded underground.

— News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026
If you have been bitten or scratched by any stray animals or an animal suspected to have rabies, seek medical care immediately and let your provider know about the possible exposure.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of scratched

Verb

In fact, during testing, the handheld triggered nostalgic memories of playing Final Fantasy Legend and Mario Land 2 on long car rides to my grandparents' house, but without the eye strain and being scolded for playing in the dark as the sun set.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2026
For over a year, the White House has scolded and threatened the Smithsonian.

— Kelsey Ables, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolded

Verb

The move came days after Stephens publicly criticized EMCC and Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference leadership over changes to the league’s football schedule and playoff format.

— Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also defended the decision to increase bond purchases earlier last month, after investor Stanley Druckenmiller criticized the move.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of criticized

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“Excoriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriated. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of excoriated

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