1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flay
The upper fangs sank into Wyatt’s left cheek, just below his eye socket, the lower into his top lip and right nostril, flaying his face in four separate places.
—
Malcolm Brooks Malcolm Hillgartner Krish Seenivasan Zak Mouton, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The massive main compartment flays open completely near the back panel for easy packing and unpacking, with several other zippered access points for stuffing or pulling layers out on-the-go.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
However, for somebody whose arm has been flayed and who spent all night looking at the Hannibal art installation that was once his wife, Donald is acting way too normal.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Grammy winner Williams flays the mysterious character, and opens the show with her powerful vocals.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flay
Malcolm Brooks Malcolm Hillgartner Krish Seenivasan Zak Mouton, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The massive main compartment flays open completely near the back panel for easy packing and unpacking, with several other zippered access points for stuffing or pulling layers out on-the-go.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
However, for somebody whose arm has been flayed and who spent all night looking at the Hannibal art installation that was once his wife, Donald is acting way too normal.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Grammy winner Williams flays the mysterious character, and opens the show with her powerful vocals.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flay
Verb
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Today's top stories President Trump scolded Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday after Russia launched a deadly strike on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
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That, in the end, is the heart of the spectacle of Noem’s militaristic videos and Leavitt’s scolding and lies.—
Constance Grady,
Vox,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Recent federal proposals aim to peel back the curtain, mandating clearer disclosure of fees, rebates and spread pricing.—
Yasser Almuaala,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Carefully peel the round from the tortilla press, place on the comal and cook on one side for 1 minute.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Conor Heffernan, who lectures on the history of sports and fitness at Ulster University, in Ireland, said the current vogue for biohacking, and its protein boosterism, reeks of snake oil.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
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Her quotidian life was lecturing at a college in Aberdeen, close to where she was born, and the travel and mountaineering a teacher’s schedule enables.—
Sadie Stein,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
And when no one was fired or even reprimanded for the FUBAR, the accountability Hegseth promised had seemingly gone AWOL.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
23 Apr. 2025
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Rourke was formally reprimanded by the show and ultimately booted from the house.—
Mikelle Street,
Them.,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flay. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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