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Glite Dictionary
🪨 To throw stones ⚰️ To kill by stoning 💢 To harshly criticize
to lapidate

to lapidate

9.9
To attack someone harshly with words, often in writing
  • verb
  • /ˈlæpɪˌdeɪt/
  • NSFW
translation icon : lapidar
  • When his decision was announced, the public wasted no time in lapidating him in the press.

Examples

  • She feared her novel would be lapidated by harsh reviewers.

  • Don't lapidate her work without understanding the context!

  • The critics began to lapidate the poorly received film.

  • The critics lapidate the movie for its poor plot.

  • The critics began to lapidate the poorly received film in their reviews.

  • After the scandal, many journalists were eager to lapidate the politician in their articles.

  • She warned her friends not to lapidate the new album without giving it a fair listen.

Synonyms

to revile
vsto lapidate
  • Offensive
23 8.2

To say angry, insulting things about someone or something

is broader and can include written attacks or literal stoning
to lambast
vsto lapidate
12 8.2

To criticize someone very strongly and angrily

is similar but often carries a public or rhetorical emphasis
to tear (someone) a new one
vsto lapidate
  • Offensive
2 9.9

To scold someone angrily

is broader, applying to harsh criticism in speech, writing, or stoning
to lambaste
vsto lapidate
1 8.0

To criticize someone or something very strongly in public

is similar but also covers literal stoning as a figurative origin
to vituperate
vsto lapidate
  • Offensive
9.9

To criticize someone angrily using harsh words

is broader and can mean harsh public attack or literal stoning
to lace into
vsto lapidate
  • NSFW
8.5

Criticize or attack someone strongly

often means severe verbal attack or figurative stoning rather than real violence

Antonyms

to support
∞ 1.0

Give help to a person or idea

How Harsh

to lapidate
  • NSFW
9.9
to attack
597 3.4
to criticize
701 3.3

Surface Forms

lapidate infinitive
lapidated past
lapidated past participle
lapidating present participle
lapidates third person singular

Morphology

lapidate = lapis (opaque) = lapid + ate

The combining form 'lapid-' (meaning 'stone') is not a standalone English root and is unfamiliar to average learners, so the verb formed with '-ate' is not transparently derived.

Etymology

The word lapidate comes from the Latin lapis, meaning 'stone'. A helpful way to remember the figurative use is to imagine critics 'throwing stones' with harsh words, so to lapidate someone is to attack them strongly in speech or writing.