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

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
Paint peels away from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in Washington, DC, on June 23, 2026.

— Kevin Breuninger,Terri Cullen, CNBC, 31 July 2026

Definition of peels

Verb

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
Khimasia is an independent curator who currently lectures at Rutgers University.

— News Desk, Artforum, 27 July 2026

Definition of lectures

Verb

But Wilson mostly blames himself for why his career has reached a crossroads at age 27.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
At every turn, Marissa blames herself for Milo’s disappearance, as do others, and Peter lets her bear that undue weight for most of the series without explaining his part in any of it.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of blames

Verb

Beatty’s filing also criticizes the tarps that have covered the venue’s front portico for more than two months.

— Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Lebanese leader criticizes Israel Saturday’s strikes are the deadliest since the truce went into effect two months ago.

— Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of criticizes

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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 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of flays

verb

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