Definition of "excoriate" [ex•co•ri•ate]

• To tear or wear off the skin of; abrade. See Synonyms at chafe. (verb-transitive)
• To censure strongly; denounce: an editorial that excoriated the administration for its inaction. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "So perhaps the best advice for those who want to justify this or claim that others are being too militant and yes, some are likely being too pushy and thus come across as being little more than mirror images of those they want to excoriate is to just stop settling and just continue exploring."
• "It is completely illogical to assume that being ashamed and having your school "excoriate" you will be motivational in any way."
• ""excoriate" the UN's peacekeeping mission in Congo."