excoriate
/ɪkˈskoʊɹ.iˌeɪt/
Group 27Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To censure or criticize severely GRE
Example in Context
The editorial excoriated the board for its failure of oversight, calling for the immediate resignation of every member who had signed the report.
Synonyms
criticize harshlyslamblast
Etymology
Literally means to strip off the skin, now used metaphorically for harsh criticism.
- ex- (Latin) — out
- corium (Latin) — skin
Memory Aid
🧥Sounds like “ex-coat”
Imagine a critic EXCORIATING a bad movie by saying, 'This film is like an EX-COAT that just won’t come off!'
Visual Association
🗡️A film critic dramatically tearing apart a movie poster with a sword, leaving the audience gasping.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “excoriate” mean on the GRE?
excoriate (verb) means “To censure or criticize severely”. The editorial excoriated the board for its failure of oversight, calling for the immediate resignation of every member who had signed the report.
How to remember “excoriate” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “excoriate” sounds like “ex-coat”. Imagine a critic EXCORIATING a bad movie by saying, 'This film is like an EX-COAT that just won’t come off!'
What are synonyms for “excoriate”?
Common synonyms: criticize harshly, slam, blast.