FLAYS Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

flays

verb

present tense third-person singular of flay

as in scolds

to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping

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as in peels

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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Recent Examples of Synonyms for flays

Verb

Some intergenerational sparring ensues, as Kevin scolds Arthur for his more outré boomer comments, and Arthur in turn sneers at his grandson’s millennial lameness.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of scolds

Verb

As autumn progresses, the husk peels back, revealing the orange berries.

— Marisa Suzanne Martin, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Nordic noir suggests the presence of violence and hatred beneath the tranquillity and order of the Scandinavian welfare state, just as Southern noir peels back hospitality and charm to reveal repressed family secrets and moral decay.

— Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of peels

Verb

Coach Hudson defends Ricky to Gerry’s face, but privately lectures his daughter about the optics of their close relationship as a female football coach and tells her to put some space between her and Chad (and unknowingly, Russ).

— Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
Robert Pozen, who lectures at MIT Sloan School of Management and was formerly president of Fidelity Investments, has an answer to the obvious question about who inspects this.

— Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of lectures

Verb

Tight end Trey McBride said Brissett barks at the defense after making a big play, particularly at star safety Budda Baker, which spikes practice competitiveness.

— Doug Haller, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Linnetz’s rambunctious wire-haired Viszla mix, Einstein, barks at what is unbeknownst to him one of the most legendary skateboards of all time.

— Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of barks

Verb

Being a fly on the wall is precisely what Hard Knocks makes viewers feel like in the moment when Head Coach Mike Macdonald reprimands linebacker Derick Hall for getting too close to a quarterback.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
The emperor reprimands her for being late for the rainmaking ritual.

— Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026

Definition of reprimands

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flaying

flays

fleabag

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“Flays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flays. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of flays

verb

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