flay

verb

ˈflā 

flayed; flaying; flays

transitive verb

1

: to strip off the skin or surface of : skin

The hunter flayed the rabbit and prepared it for cooking.

2

: to criticize harshly : excoriate

He was flayed by the media for his controversial comments.

3

: lash sense 1b

the wind whipped up to gale fury, flaying his face

—Richard Kent

Synonyms

• baste
• bawl out
• berate
• call down
• castigate
• chastise
• chew out
• dress down
• hammer
• jaw
• keelhaul
• lambaste
• lambast
• lecture
• rag
• rail (at or against)
• rant (at)
• rate
• ream (out)
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• score
• tongue-lash
• upbraid

Examples of flay in a Sentence

her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping

flayed their kill right there in the forest, taking both the meat and the skin home

Recent Examples on the Web

The massive main compartment flays open completely near the back panel for easy packing and unpacking, with several other zippered access points for stuffing or pulling layers out on-the-go. —The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024

However, for somebody whose arm has been flayed and who spent all night looking at the Hannibal art installation that was once his wife, Donald is acting way too normal. —James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024

Grammy winner Williams flays the mysterious character, and opens the show with her powerful vocals. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024

The radical potential of the scene has mostly evaporated, flattened and flayed into vague signifiers. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English flen, from Old English flēan; akin to Old Norse flā to flay, Lithuanian plėšti to tear

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

flay

verb

ˈflā 

1

: to strip off the skin or surface of : skin

2

: to scold severely