excoriating
Verbally flaying someone
Excoriating means harshly criticizing or verbally attacking.
An excoriating review tears a book or film apart.
An excoriating speech denounces its target with fierce condemnation: The senator delivered an excoriating rebuke of his colleagues.
The word comes from a Latin term meaning to strip off skin—the criticism flays its target.
Extremely intense or severe
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- condemnationSevere disapproval expressed formally
- denunciationFormal public accusation
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
rebuke · castigation · lambasting · vitriol · invective · diatribe · tirade · upbraiding
Shallow surface wound
- lesionArea of pathological change
- chafingIrritation from friction
- rawnessUnrefined or exposed state
- scrapingRubbing away material
ulceration · wound · dermabrasion · friction burn · laceration · erosion · inflammation
blistering
Extremely intense or severe
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
- condemnationSevere disapproval expressed formally
- denunciationFormal public accusation
censure · rebuke · castigation · lambasting · vitriol · invective · diatribe · tirade · upbraiding · berating
abrasion
Shallow surface wound
scraping · ulceration · wound · dermabrasion · friction burn · laceration · erosion · inflammation
sandpaper
Abrasive-coated finishing material
- pumiceLightweight volcanic abrasive
- emeryGranular polishing mineral
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
scrub · scour · rasp · file · grindstone · whetstone · buff · corundum · garnet · flint
excoriatingpraising
Voicing admiration
lauding · extolling · commending · complimenting · eulogizing