Excoriate
/ɪkˈskɔːriˌeɪt/
verbC2
Definition
Excoriate means to express very strong disapproval or anger toward someone or something, often by speaking or writing in a very harsh way. It can also mean to damage or remove the skin from a surface, but it is most often used for strong verbal criticism.
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See It in Action
To strongly criticize or verbally attack someone or something
- •The film critic excoriated the new movie for its poor acting.
- •The politician was excoriated in the press for his dishonest behavior.
- •She excoriated the company for ignoring environmental laws.
To remove or damage the skin by scraping or scratching (less common use)
- •The child fell and excoriated his knee on the rough pavement.
- •The doctor treated the excoriated skin carefully to prevent infection.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "excoriate" like "criticize" (A2 word), but much stronger and more painful, like a deep scratch instead of a small poke
- ✓Picture someone scratching their skin hard so it hurts and the skin comes off — this shows how strong and painful the criticism is
- ✓It's the feeling when someone says very harsh words that hurt your feelings deeply, not just a small complaint
- ✓Sounds like "ex-CORE-ee-ate" → imagine taking out the "core" or inside part of something, leaving it raw and exposed
- ✓Think of a teacher or boss who not only points out mistakes but does it in a very angry, sharp way that stings
- ✓NOT like "praise" (say good things), "excoriate" means to say very bad things strongly and clearly
- ✓NOT like "criticize" (which can be gentle), "excoriate" is very harsh and severe criticism
Try Other Words
- •Condemn: to express strong disapproval (Use when the focus is on moral or serious fault)
- •Denounce: to publicly declare something wrong or bad (Use when criticism is open and public)
- •Attack: to criticize very strongly (Use when the criticism is aggressive)
- •Scold: to speak angrily to someone for doing something wrong (Use for personal or direct criticism, often spoken)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ex-" (out) + "cori-" (from Latin "corium" meaning skin) + "-ate" (verb suffix)
- •Etymology: From Latin "excoriare," meaning to strip off the skin or to flay
- •Historical development: Originally used to mean physical scraping or removal of skin, later took a figurative meaning of harsh verbal criticism as if "scraping" someone's reputation or feelings
- •Modern usage: Mostly used in formal or literary language to describe very harsh criticism or verbal attack
Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of "removing skin" help you understand the feeling of being excoriated by words?
•Can excoriating criticism ever be helpful, or is it always harmful? When might it be used in a good way?
Fill in the blanks
1.The reporter excoriated the government ___ its failure to protect the environment.
2.When a public figure is excoriated, it usually means they face ___ criticism from many people.
3.Unlike gentle feedback, excoriating someone often causes ___ feelings or embarrassment.
4.The coach excoriated the player ___ missing the important goal during the final match.
5.In medicine, to excoriate means to scrape off the ___ layer of skin.
6.When people excoriate a book or movie, they usually talk about its ___ parts in a very strong way.
7.After being excoriated in the media, the celebrity decided to ___ a public apology.