1
as in attacked
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
the mayor had hardly been in office for a month before she was being excoriated for problems of very long standing
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Recent Examples of excoriated
In recommending Comey's firing, the Justice Department leadership excoriated Comey for his handling of the investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server during her time as secretary of State.
—
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
But he was also excoriated when his worst predictions failed to come true.
—The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Craig Aaron, the co-CEO of Free Press, a consumer advocacy group, excoriated the potential WBD-Paramount merger, warning of dire consequences for the news media.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Mitt Romney favored raising it to 68 in his 2012 campaign for president, but by the 2024 campaign, Nikki Haley was excoriated for suggesting any increase at all.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
One year after Vice President JD Vance excoriated European leaders and accused them of sidelining far-right parties, Rubio’s politer tone came as a relief to many in the audience.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Over the past two weeks, three federal judges in Orlando have ordered the immediate release of immigrants from the jail and excoriated prosecutors for arguing that a law addressing people stopped at the border allows ICE to indefinitely lock up people already living in the country.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
But he was also excoriated when his worst predictions failed to come true.
—The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026
During a fiery congressional hearing last month, Democrats excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and included nude photographs.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Craig Aaron, the co-CEO of Free Press, a consumer advocacy group, excoriated the potential WBD-Paramount merger, warning of dire consequences for the news media.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
Mitt Romney favored raising it to 68 in his 2012 campaign for president, but by the 2024 campaign, Nikki Haley was excoriated for suggesting any increase at all.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
One year after Vice President JD Vance excoriated European leaders and accused them of sidelining far-right parties, Rubio’s politer tone came as a relief to many in the audience.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Over the past two weeks, three federal judges in Orlando have ordered the immediate release of immigrants from the jail and excoriated prosecutors for arguing that a law addressing people stopped at the border allows ICE to indefinitely lock up people already living in the country.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excoriated
Verb
-
While Hungary is a member of the European Union, Orbán has repeatedly attacked the it and clashed with his European counterparts on several issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine, using his veto power to try to block the EU's efforts to support Ukraine.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Milton residents are voicing safety concerns in the Blue Hills Reservation after Massachusetts State Police say a man stabbed a dog that allegedly attacked him.—
Samantha Chaney,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even minimal exposure to artificial lights irritated his burns, and recovery took months.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Many people have come out of the woodwork and jumped on the bandwagon, which irritated me.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mosquera slammed home a volley from outside the area off a clearance attempt to tie it 1-1 in the 36th minute and fed Da Costo for a first-touch finish from point-blank range give the Timbers a 2-1 lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
But the wind, rising quickly, brought higher waves that slammed the small boat with growing force.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ace right-hander Jacob deGrom, making his first start of the season after being scratched Saturday with a neck injury, cruised through the first four innings and almost made if out of the fifth, but Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run double to tie the game at 3.—
Jim Barnes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Red Sox played without catcher Carlos Narváez after he was scratched from the lineup Wednesday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The former Iranian diplomat Hossein Mousavian once scolded Americans for failing to realize that his people are prideful and vain, and that negotiations meant to humiliate and insult them won’t get far.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2026
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But the stunt goes south as Wooley turns out to be an unabashed bigot who embarrasses the show and gets scolded by the host.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Benjamin Rush, a Founding Father and a physician, criticized the medical establishment for being closed-minded about treatments recommended by non-physicians.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Glendon Hall, who leads the Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee, criticized the police at the time.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excoriated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excoriated. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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