🗯️ Very harsh criticism 🤕 Causing sore skin 🩹 To scrape skin

excoriating

1 8.5

Expressing very strong criticism

adjective
/ɪkˈkɔːriˌeɪtɪŋ/

Formal

: desgarrador

German Baptist Carl Schwill countered this article with an excoriating response in Der Wahrheitszeuge (August 6, 1933) that was translated by the Baptist Times (August 31, 1933).

Examples

They would also seem to be more violent and excoriating than any civilized reader would wish to be.

Academic text (1997)
The film received an excoriating review from critics, highlighting its numerous flaws.
His excoriating remarks about the policy changes left many in shock during the meeting.
The columnist wrote an excoriating article that condemned the government's response to the crisis.

Synonyms

damning

vsexcoriating

49 5.3

Showing clear proof that someone or something is wrong

is harsh evaluative language rather than evidence based judgment

opprobrious

vsexcoriating

Formal

1 9.9

Making people feel ashamed in public with strong criticism

is severe negative judgment not focused on public shaming

denunciatory

vsexcoriating

9.8

Showing strong criticism and warning of punishment for bad actions

is severe disapproval used broadly rather than a formal warning

Antonyms

praising

2.1

Showing approval and admiration for someone or their work

How Harsh

scathing

19 7.7

excoriating

Formal

1 8.5

severe

520 3.5

harsh

289 2.8

critical

210 3.8

Surface Forms

excoriating positive

Morphology

excoriating = excoriate (semi-transparent) = excoriate + ing

Formally derived from the verb 'excoriate', but this sense is figurative ('to denounce severely') and that shift may not be obvious to learners unfamiliar with the verb's non-physical use.

Etymology

Excoriating comes from the parts ex- 'out' and corium 'skin', and a helpful way to remember its 'very strong criticism' meaning is to picture words that 'strip' or 'take the skin off' someone's reputation.