flaying

verb

present participle of flay
1
as in scolding
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 peeling
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 flaying The end came with England on 50-0, with Stokes flaying Foulkes to Mitchell at mid-on. — ABC News, 28 June 2026 Dwight grabbed my arm, wrenching my hand out of my pocket, flaying it like a fish, pulling me along. — Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flaying
  1. scolding
  2. peeling
  3. lecturing
  4. reprimanding
  5. criticizing
Verb
  • Remake includes footage of Adrian urging his father to consider Carr’s offer, and gently scolding him for having passed up certain opportunities to make money—money that would have made the family's life better—off his filmmaking acumen.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
  • Soon though, Shawna noticed some of Zaayer's strange behaviors — including scolding her grandson, getting upset over cleaning habits and allegedly showing them racist videos.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of scolding
Verb
  • Thoroughly washing or peeling any fresh fruits and veggies before consuming them is always a good idea, regardless of whether there is a Cyclospora outbreak.
    — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • That trademark indecision of summer takes root in her words and spreads through the music until her vocals diverge in the chorus, peeling like a clementine’s skin as one shrill line scales upward and the other remains monotone.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
Definition of peeling
Verb
  • In no way, shape or form should an INDYCAR driver be lecturing NASCAR on the excitement level of races.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
  • He was internationally known as an expert on the work of William Faulkner, teaching and lecturing around the world on the Nobel Prize winner.
    — Rebecca McCarthy, AJC.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of lecturing
Verb
  • Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Earlier this week, Scott Agness claimed his press credentials were revoked by the team after his reporting led to the WNBA reprimanding the Fever for not being transparent about Clark’s health status during a game on May 20.
    — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Definition of reprimanding
Verb
  • After the comments section was flooded with messages from Instagram users criticizing the timing of the post, Kim added an additional comment with an explanation.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
  • The standoff follows a broader White House campaign criticizing Smithsonian exhibitions and historical framing, while Secretary Lonnie G.
    — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of criticizing

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Cite this Entry

“Flaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaying. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flaying

Nglish: Translation of flaying for Spanish Speakers

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