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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flay
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
Some of the homes were shoved off their concrete footings, while others had their roofs flayed off by the wind.
—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
See All Example Sentences for flay
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
Some of the homes were shoved off their concrete footings, while others had their roofs flayed off by the wind.
—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
See All Example Sentences for flay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flay
Verb
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However, the voice resembling Smith Sr.’s goes silent for the remainder of the phone call, as Martinez continues to scold him for his actions.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
24 Feb. 2025
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Shakira storms off Miami nightclub stage after appearing to scold clubgoer for filming up her dress The title of the tour is taken from the singer's 12th studio album, released last year and the first since 2017's El Dorado.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Dusty blue velvet benches were piled against walls with peeling paint.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2025
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Chicago Fire is peeling back another layer of the onion that is Lizzy Novak.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Every purchase is scrutinized — last week, I was lectured for buying a name-brand cereal.—
Anna Pulley,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2025
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For Vance to lecture the Germans on how to govern themselves—the Germans, who rose from the traumas of Nazism to build a vibrant and enduring democracy—was inappropriate and bizarre.—
Dexter Filkins,
The New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Earlier this month, Lambert made headlines for stopping mid-show to reprimand an audience member who was doing just that.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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The World’s Best Hospitals 2024 By Dr. Thomas Lee Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member news article 0 In the pilot episode of HBO's new medical drama The Pitt, a dedicated ER doctor is reprimanded for his low Press Ganey patient satisfaction scores.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
10 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flay. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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