excoriates
Tears apart verbally
Excoriates means to harshly criticize or denounce.
A columnist excoriates a politician; a coach excoriates players after a loss.
The word carries a sense of stripping away pretense or dignity—fittingly, since its older meaning is to scrape off skin.
The editorial excoriated the mayor for his handling of the crisis.
Publicly criticizes harshly
- condemnsExpresses severe disapproval
- censuresFormally expresses strong disapproval
- castigatesSeverely criticizes or punishes
- lambastesCriticizes with ferocity
berates · reprimands · rebukes · chastises · admonishes · upbraids · scolds · reproves
denounces
Publicly criticizes harshly
- condemnsExpresses severe disapproval
- censuresFormally expresses strong disapproval
- castigatesSeverely criticizes or punishes
lambastes · berates · reprimands · rebukes · chastises · admonishes · upbraids · scolds · reproves · decries
abrades
Wears away by friction
scrapes · chafes · blisters · ulcerates · denudes · wounds · lesion · dermabrasion · raw skin
scathing
Severely and bitingly critical
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
vitriolic · trenchant · severe · savage · cutting · acerbic · stinging · mordant · incisive · barbed
- criticismscriticizes, disparages, condemns, denounces, censures
excoriateshandles with kid gloves
Treats very gently
defends · supports · champions · vindicates · sugarcoats