excoriate
ex·co·ri·ate (
k-skôr
-
t
, -sk
r-)
tr.v. ex·co·ri·at·ed, ex·co·ri·at·ing, ex·co·ri·ates
1. To tear or wear off the skin of; abrade. See Synonyms at chafe.
2. To censure strongly; denounce: an editorial that excoriated the administration for its inaction.
[Middle English excoriaten, from Latin excorire, excorit- : ex-, ex- + corium, skin; see sker-1 in Indo-European roots.]
ex·cori·ation n.
ex·cori·ator n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
| Verb | 1. | excoriate – express strong disapproval of; “We condemn the racism in South Africa”; “These ideas were reprobated”
denounce – speak out against; “He denounced the Nazis”
|
| 2. | excoriate – tear or wear off the skin or make sore by abrading; “This leash chafes the dog’s neck” |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
