EXCORIATES Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

excoriates

verb

present tense third-person singular of excoriate

as in attacks

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in irritates

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 excoriates 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for excoriates

Verb

At the same time, in the real world, Lisa wakes up and attacks Thomas and Paladin, using her new, uh, nanobot powers?

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic (long-term) autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks healthy tissues, causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.

— Health Editorial Team, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of attacks

Verb

Patients may be advised to use gentle, fragrance-free products, keep the area moisturized, and avoid anything that further irritates the skin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Knowing that Madame Lalouette’s sales numbers are too high to fire her, Carla attempts to transfer Madame Morel to a different department — a move that irritates her superiors and highlights her weakness.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of irritates

Verb

In a video shared by De La Espriella’s office Tuesday, the president scolds some of the suspects captured by police.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
In a video shared by De la Espriella’s office Tuesday, the president scolds some of the suspects captured by police.

— Manuel Rueda, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of scolds

Verb

One recent ad featuring an Epstein survivor, and targeted at Kansas Republican Roger Marshall, slams the incumbent senator’s September 2025 vote to block a procedural measure that would have released the Epstein files.

— Caitlin Dewey, Vox, 28 Oct. 2026
There’s seat-shaking violence in how the whale breaches the surface and slams its weight back down (the crafty sound design is by James Miller) and body horror in its claustrophobic, spongy inner chambers.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of slams

Verb

Cervera, who often publicly criticizes school district decisions, defends his criticism of Fernandez.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
At an October debate, Bass pointed out that Raman, as chair of the city council’s housing and homelessness committee, had repeatedly approved spending on Inside Safe, the very program Raman now criticizes as expensive and insufficiently accountable.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticizes

Verb

Anyone who repeatedly abuses AI tools may soon find Claude giving them the silent treatment.

— James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Detectives will continue investigating these cases aggressively, and anyone who abuses their position with a child will be held accountable.

— Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of abuses

Verb

The war in Gaza has become a dividing line between the two candidates, both of whom are Jewish, as Lander assails Goldman for not being tough enough on Israel over its military action against Palestinians.

— Anthony Izaguirre, Fortune, 23 June 2026
As an example, Vance called out an essay in The Nation that assails Kirk’s views on women, homosexuality, and affirmative action.

— Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025

Definition of assails

Verb

Will Oscar and guild voters want to throw their weight behind a movie that lambastes the very technology that threatens their existence?

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 July 2026
Mikey lambastes him anyway, turning a speech in praise of Richie into a searing evisceration.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 May 2026

Definition of lambastes

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“Excoriates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriates. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of excoriates

verb

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