excoriate

[ik-skawr-ee-eyt, -skohr-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR excoriate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ex·co·ri·at·ed, ex·co·ri·at·ing.

to denounce or berate severely; flay verbally: He was excoriated for his mistakes.

to strip off or remove the skin from: Her palms were excoriated by the hard labor of shoveling.

Origin of excoriate

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin excoriātus (past participle of excoriāre to strip, skin). See ex-¹, corium, -ate¹

Related formsun·ex·co·ri·at·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for excoriate

Newspaper editorials continue to excoriate Netanyahu, even calling for his resignation—editorials written by his supporters.
Why Did Netanyahu Release Palestinian Prisoners?|Abraham Katsman|August 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It teases and goads the wealthy to be fair rather than excoriate them for being rich.
Obama Call for Buffett Rule Is Potent Politics but an Economic Pitfall|Zachary Karabell|April 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Those who excoriate the approach as idealistic or unrealistic missed the point.
Condi Rice: The Bush 'Freedom Agenda' Won|The Daily Beast|October 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
That opened a new opportunity for bloggers to excoriate both Duncan and his staff.
Teachers Furious at Duncan|Diane Ravitch|May 10, 2011|DAILY BEAST

“Lisa Miller continually uses her column to excoriate faith,” says Cupp.
The Right's Favorite Atheist|Benyamin Cohen|June 13, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Its pamphlets went so far as to excoriate allied methods of warfare and to level accusations of inhumanity against the Belgians.
Woodrow Wilson and the World War|Charles Seymour
Ghastly faces were staring at her, their lips moving in death to excoriate her.
The Last Shot|Frederick Palmer
Those attacked by the insect scratch, and in this act they excoriate the skin, crush the lice and contaminate their fingers.
Handbook of Medical Entomology|William Albert Riley
You must be careful not to have too much of the Liquid on the rag, for fear it should excoriate the gums or inside of the mouth.
The Toilet of Flora|Pierre-Joseph Buc'hoz
Neither have you a right to excoriate those who are conscientiously operating through the channels spoken of.
The Abominations of Modern Society|Rev. T. De Witt Talmage

British Dictionary definitions for excoriate

excoriate

verb (tr)

to strip (the skin) from (a person or animal); flay

med to lose (a superficial area of skin), as by scratching, the application of chemicals, etc

to denounce vehemently; censure severely

Derived Formsexcoriation, noun

Word Origin for excoriate

C15: from Late Latin excoriāre to strip, flay, from Latin corium skin, hide

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for excoriate

early 15c., from Late Latin excoriatus, past participle of excoriare "flay, strip off the hide," from Latin ex- "off" (see ex-) + corium "hide, skin" (see corium). Figurative sense of "denounce, censure" first recorded in English 1708. Related: Excoriated; excoriating.

Medicine definitions for excoriate

excoriate

[ĭk-skôr′ē-āt′]

v.

To scratch or otherwise abrade the skin by physical means.

Related formsex•co′ri•a′tion n.

excoriate

verb (used with object), ex·co·ri·at·ed, ex·co·ri·at·ing.

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Origin of excoriate

Examples from the Web for excoriate

excoriate

verb (tr)

Word Origin for excoriate

excoriate

v.