flayed

verb

past tense of flay
1
as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in peeled
to remove the natural covering of flayed their kill right there in the forest, taking both the meat and the skin home

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 flayed Hamilton has flayed his Republican opponent for not holding public town halls -- an argument that resonates with Ubel. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 The children are dismembered and penetrated, flayed alive, disemboweled, and their intestines set alight. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 But after Richard’s death, his mercenary captain and right-hand man, the infamous Mercadier, had Basile flayed alive and hanged. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The apostle was believed to have met his martyrdom by being flayed alive. — Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flayed
  1. scolded
  2. peeled
  3. lectured
  4. reprimanded
  5. blamed
  6. criticized
Verb
  • Abe doesn’t like that Erin scolded him at his party about spilling his drink and not helping with the kids, and Erin is frustrated that none of her children will listen to her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
  • For example, just recently, Musk publicly scolded the CEO of Delta in a scorching post on X when the airline did not partner with Starlink to provide Wi-Fi on Delta flights.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of scolded
Verb
  • Disney hasn’t named them yet, so keep your eyes peeled before your trip or hop on and be surprised.
    — Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Add 1 head of garlic, cloves separated, peeled, thinly sliced, and remaining 2 Tbsp.
    — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of peeled
Verb
  • Earhart lectured at the school before embarking on her final flight.
    — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Luann patiently attempts to explain that the women don’t like being lectured to about their business affairs, only for Vicki to abruptly answer a phone call mid-conversation.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of lectured
Verb
  • In a social media poll Wednesday afternoon, Mary Talley Bowden—a dejected MAHA activist, anti-vaccine advocate, and doctor reprimanded for prescribing ivermectin to treat COVID-19—polled her followers about what should come next.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Mandell was later formally reprimanded for allowing another client’s hearing to be delayed by six years, during which time two witnesses died.
    — Samantha Melamed, ProPublica, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of reprimanded
Verb
  • Rodolfo Friedmann, a party vice president, called for Peña's expulsion, while Senate President Basilio Núñez defended the president and blamed the central bank instead.
    — EMILIO SANABRIA, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Lawson said Amendment 3 outperformed a nationwide shift to the left, and blamed the loss on out-of-state donors contributing to the opposition.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of blamed
Verb
  • Thompson has criticized the self-funding, while Jones has fired back by pointing at the incumbent’s history of accepting corporate donations.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Sand criticized Iowa's education savings account, or voucher, program, which uses public money to help families pay private school tuition.
    — Sheila Brummer, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of criticized

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Cite this Entry

“Flayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flayed. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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