flayed

verb

past tense of flay
1
as in scolded
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in peeled
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 flayed Hamilton has flayed his Republican opponent for not holding public town halls -- an argument that resonates with Ubel. — Gaby Vinick, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026 The children are dismembered and penetrated, flayed alive, disemboweled, and their intestines set alight. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 But after Richard’s death, his mercenary captain and right-hand man, the infamous Mercadier, had Basile flayed alive and hanged. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The apostle was believed to have met his martyrdom by being flayed alive. — Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flayed
  1. scolded
  2. peeled
  3. lectured
  4. reprimanded
  5. blamed
  6. criticized
Verb
  • Eventually, all charges were dropped days before trial after Perry was finally given the full, unredacted grand jury transcripts and scolded prosecutors for violating the inherent trust placed in the office.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In 2024, a judge scolded both sides for excessive litigation and ruled for the trust to be dissolved and for the house to be sold.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of scolded
Verb
  • Damaged Bark Lawn mowers, strimmers, and snowplows can take a major toll on tree health – especially if tree bark is peeled away in large chunks.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Add 5 garlic cloves, crushed, peeled, and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until oil around garlic is sizzling, about 3 minutes.
    — Carla Lalli Music, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of peeled
Verb
  • Luann patiently attempts to explain that the women don’t like being lectured to about their business affairs, only for Vicki to abruptly answer a phone call mid-conversation.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • We’re also lectured early on that Cole is a chess master, but his alleged intelligence never pays off.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of lectured
Verb
  • She was reprimanded by the House Rules and Ethics Committee for her stunt with the bullhorn.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
  • My mother reprimanded me for taking a sip from a cocktail glass without first removing the little plastic swizzle stick that often comes in a drink.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of reprimanded
Verb
  • Nuñez defended police tactics despite a growing number of severe injuries blamed on officers' riot-control weapons.
    — NICOLAS GARRIGA, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Rather than point to the comments, however, Cruz blamed fans who attempted to force their way through the entrance of the stadium before the game.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of blamed
Verb
  • Osborn has been traveling across Nebraska to hold meetings in all 93 counties and has repeatedly criticized Ricketts for not holding town halls to meet with constituents.
    — NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Hinojosa has campaigned on her tenure as a civil rights lawyer and criticized Abbott’s crime policies as violating civil liberties.
    — Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of criticized

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Cite this Entry

“Flayed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flayed. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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