1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings
her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of flay
Some of the homes were shoved off their concrete footings, while others had their roofs flayed off by the wind.
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Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2024
Among the dead was Hugh de Cressingham, the king’s treasurer, whose corpse was reportedly flayed to make a sheath for Wallace’s sword.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024
Graphic contemporary news footage shows Mussolini’s ignominious end, when his abused corpse was publicly flayed by anyone who wanted to take a whack at it.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
Frankness is admirable—this, after all, is our world; these things happen—but flaying our eyeballs like this, not so much.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for flay 
Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2024
Among the dead was Hugh de Cressingham, the king’s treasurer, whose corpse was reportedly flayed to make a sheath for Wallace’s sword.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024
Graphic contemporary news footage shows Mussolini’s ignominious end, when his abused corpse was publicly flayed by anyone who wanted to take a whack at it.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
Frankness is admirable—this, after all, is our world; these things happen—but flaying our eyeballs like this, not so much.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for flay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flay
Verb
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The Senate hauled Live Nation’s president and CFO in for a public scolding.Allison Morrow, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
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The New York Times reported that Hegseth’s mother had sent him an email scolding him for abusing women.Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Once the spiced syrup has been off heat for about five to 10 minutes, peel six lemons and add the peels to spiced syrup, then stir briefly.Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 9 Dec. 2024
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Just peel and cube them, put them in your slow cooker along with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and other ingredients.Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
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We’re either lectured on the history of our own struggle, or appealed to with dire fearmongering and empty promises while our cries fall on deaf ears.Derrick Johnson, The Hill, 3 Dec. 2024
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An increasingly jealous Seth Rollins lectured Sami Zayn about teaming with Roman Reigns after both of them worked so hard to end the Bloodline.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Lawmakers also made calls for the House Ethics Committee to look into the matter and demanded that Higgins be formally reprimanded. 2024 Presidential Election:When is the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance?Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Sep. 2024
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The Democratic chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee reprimanded the heads of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security for failing to appear for an annual hearing.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near flay
Cite this Entry
“Flay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flay. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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