Definition

1. Verb:
   • To denounce or criticize severely: To express strong disapproval of someone or something, often in harsh terms.
   • To damage or remove part of the surface of (the skin): To strip, wear, or scrape off the skin, making it sore; to abrade.

Examples

• Verb (Criticize):
  • The film critic excoriated the director's latest movie for its poor plot.
  • The senator excoriated her colleagues for their lack of action on the bill.
• Verb (Abrade Skin):
  • The rough fabric of the new backpack excoriated the skin on his shoulders.
  • The chemical burn excoriated the patient's forearm.

Advanced Usage

• Formal/Journalistic Context: Often used in formal writing, political commentary, or severe reviews to indicate a thorough and harsh critique.
  • The investigative report excoriated the company's environmental practices.
• Medical/Literal Context: Used in medical or descriptive writing to describe physical abrasion.
  • The lesion was excoriated due to constant scratching.

Variants and Related Words

• Excoriation (noun):
  • The act or an instance of excoriating, either through harsh criticism or physical abrasion.
  • His speech was an excoriation of the government's policy.
  • The excoriation on her knee was caused by the fall.

Synonyms

• Criticize Severely: censure, condemn, denounce, lambaste, castigate, berate.
• Abrade Skin: chafe, scrape, graze, abrade, gall.

Antonyms

• Criticize Severely: praise, commend, applaud, approve.
• Abrade Skin: heal, soothe, protect.

Related Phrases

• To excoriate someone for something: A common collocation specifying the reason for the criticism.
  • The coach excoriated the team for their lack of effort.
• To be excoriated by: A passive construction indicating the source of the criticism.
  • The proposal was excoriated by industry experts.

Verb

1. tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading
   • This leash chafes the dog's neck
2. express strong disapproval of
   • We condemn the racism in South Africa
   • These ideas were reprobated