1
as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flayed
Verb
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During the trip, the priest who was showing them around was scolded.—
McKinley Franklin,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026 -
The president himself scolded a New York Times reporter for asking about the cost and whether Amazon was seeking to get in his good graces.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Add 1 pear, peeled, halved, cored, cut sides down, and cover pan.—
Kendra Vaculin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 Feb. 2026
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Daniel Gafford gingerly peeled back the multiple layers of tape from his right foot and ankle that, once again, were not enough to prevent a painful and scary occurrence.—
Brad Townsend,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Michael Woroniecki lectured about Satan being a very powerful force.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
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If someone senses they’re being lectured or criticized, their walls will go up, and the conversation will stall.—
Devon Kuntzman,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Routh was convicted of five counts in September after a disastrous attempt to represent himself at trial, where he was repeatedly reprimanded by the presiding judge, Aileen Cannon.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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In November, my doctor gently reprimanded me for ignoring my 2024 colonoscopy date.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When Seattle gave up 38 points in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5, Macdonald blamed himself for overloading the defensive game plan.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Democrats think Trump is only engaging because of his sagging poll numbers and his sensitivity to getting blamed for another shutdown.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Chinese state media criticized the H20 for lacking technological prowess and being environmentally unfriendly, with regulators eventually halting imports over security concerns.—
Joe Toscano,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Liston questioned why Pretti was carrying a handgun — which appeared to be removed from its holster by an officer just before the shooting — and Baisley criticized Minneapolis’ local leadership and immigrants without proper legal status.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
26 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Flayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flayed. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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