flay

1 to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping Synonyms baste, bawl out, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, scold, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste (or lambast), lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, score, tongue-lash, upbraidRelated Words admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove; abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (also diss) [slang], excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate; belittle, disparage, mock, put down; ridicule, scoff, scornNear Antonyms approve, endorse (also indorse), sanction; extol (also extoll), laud, praise

2 to remove the natural covering of flayed their kill right there in the forest, taking both the meat and the skin home Synonyms bark, peel, hull, husk, shell, shuck, skinRelated Words bare, denude, expose, scale, strip; pare