FLAYING Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

flaying

verb

present participle of flay

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

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

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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 He is said to have been martyred by flaying and beheading at the command of the Armenian king Astyages after Bartholomew converted the king’s brother. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026 The Saints also appeared to have scored a defensive touchdown when edge rusher Chase Young hit Lions QB Jared Goff hard from behind, sending the ball flaying backward toward the Detroit goal line. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 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

Verb

Liev Schreiber is apologizing for scolding a reporter at the Nocturne premiere.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2026
From behind a tree, Neil and Florence observed Brenda scolding little Neil.

— S. M. Reznik, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of scolding

Verb

The work wrapped up behind schedule at more than 10 times that cost, after algae blooms and a peeling blue liner forced crews to drain it again in July.

— Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
But the president continues to repeat false claims that vandalism — rather than shoddy workmanship — was to blame for a new blue surface peeling away.

— Michelle L. Price, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of peeling

Verb

Respondents in England and Australia were more likely to associate teaching with institutional, credentialed and paid professional roles, such as nursing, lecturing and social work.

— Gustavo E. Fischman, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
For decades, Zinn traveled the country lecturing to packed auditoriums.

— Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of lecturing

Verb

Pentecostal parents Ruth and Marius were accused of domestic violence, with worldwide protests criticizing what dissenters called harsh and hasty steps taken by Norwegian social workers without proper evidence.

— Tomris Laffly, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
Cofer is criticizing Guerra’s absence from the vote and is asking him to publicly state his position on the partnership.

— Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of criticizing

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flayed

flaying

flays

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Style

“Flaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flaying. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of flaying

verb

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