Excoriate
Word of the Day
What is Excoriate?
verb
To denounce or criticize severely; to strip or wear off the skin (literal).
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen to show how rhetoric can scorch as well as illuminate.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
Activists excoriated the company’s environmental record.
The coach excoriated sloppy defense.
Critics excoriated the film’s lazy clichés.
Word Origins
Latin excoriare “to strip the skin”
Figurative sense dominates modern usage.
First appearance in English: late Middle English
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Noun:
Her review was an excoriation of the book.
-
Verb:
They denounced the practice.
-
Adjective:
A scathing critique cut deep.
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: despellejar / vituperar
- French: écorcher (fig. étriller)
- German: scharf tadeln / verreißen
- Italian: excoriare / strapazzare
- Portuguese: esfolar / censurar severamente
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
Lambaste
Informal severe criticism; excoriate is formal and vivid.
Vilify
Attacks reputation; excoriate attacks conduct/ideas.
Castigate
Punish/criticize to correct; excoriate simply flays.
Fun Facts
- Dermatology still uses “excoriation” for skin lesions from scratching.
- The violent metaphor amplifies rhetorical force.
Cultural Usage
- Opposition parties excoriate scandals in parliament.
- Opinion columns routinely excoriate policy proposals.
Common Mistakes
Not “exonerate”; opposite vibes.
Micro Story
The editorial excoriated the agency’s failures.