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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

The degenerative disease attacks the motor neurons of the brain and spinal cords.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
The advertisement, which was released last week, attacks Vang over her attendance record at the meetings of local government bodies including the Sacramento Regional Transit District and Sacramento Transportation Authority.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacks

Verb

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
With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.

— Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritates

Verb

Some intergenerational sparring ensues, as Kevin scolds Arthur for his more outré boomer comments, and Arthur in turn sneers at his grandson’s millennial lameness.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolds

Verb

There are currently more than 85,000 customers without power across the Northeast, including New York City and Connecticut, as an intensifying early-season nor’easter slams the region with strong wind, soaking rain and coastal flooding.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
Not thunder, not cobwebs, not a door that slams itself for union reasons.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of slams

Verb

The piece also criticizes media and academic discussions that portray Latino men and Latinas as politically opposed blocs.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
The Bolsonaro reaction Flávio Bolsonaro, by contrast, criticizes Brazilian democratic institutions – particularly the Supreme Court and the electoral system – as obstacles to restoring the country’s political order.

— Andre Pagliarini, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of criticizes

Verb

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
New York City’s child welfare agency routinely abuses its emergency power to take children from their parents without a court order, creating lifelong consequences for families, a new class-action lawsuit seeking to end the practice alleged Thursday.

— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 28 May 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

Browse Nearby Words

excoriated

excoriates

excoriating

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Excoriates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriates. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of excoriates

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

etiquette

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes