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Excoriating: meaning, definitions and examples

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excoriating

 

[ ɪkˈskɔːriˌeɪtɪŋ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

harsh criticism

Excoriating is used to describe a form of criticism that is exceedingly harsh and scathing. It often relates to critique in literature, performance, or policy, where the intent is to thoroughly denounce or condemn. An excoriating review can leave the subject of the critique in a vulnerable position, as it highlights significant flaws or shortcomings without any redeeming qualities. This type of criticism may impact public perception seriously and is often reserved for issues of great importance or severe failure.

Synonyms

critical, harsh, scathing, severe, vitriolic

Examples of usage

  • The film received an excoriating review from critics.
  • Her excoriating remarks about the policy left many shocked.
  • The author's excoriating analysis of the issue sparked a heated debate.

Translations

Translations of the word "excoriating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excoriando

🇮🇳 निर्णायक रूप से आलोचना करना

🇩🇪 schärfste Kritik üben

🇮🇩 mengkritik secara tajam

🇺🇦 екскоріювання

🇵🇱 ostro krytykując

🇯🇵 厳しく批判する

🇫🇷 critiquer sévèrement

🇪🇸 criticar severamente

🇹🇷 sert eleştiri yapmak

🇰🇷 혹독하게 비판하다

🇸🇦 انتقاد شديد

🇨🇿 ostrá kritika

🇸🇰 ostrý kritika

🇨🇳 严厉批评

🇸🇮 oštro kritizirati

🇮🇸 harðlega gagnrýna

🇰🇿 қатты сын айту

🇬🇪 მკაცრად აკრიტიკებს

🇦🇿 sərt tənqid etmək

🇲🇽 criticar severamente

Word origin

The term 'excoriating' originates from the Latin word 'excoriare', which means 'to strip off the skin' (ex- for 'out of' and corium for 'skin'). This etymological root conveys a figurative sense of tearing apart or severely criticizing. The word has evolved over time and has been incorporated into English lexicon since at least the 14th century, primarily used in academic and literary contexts to describe intense forms of critique. Excoriating critiques often aim to dismantle arguments or performances thoroughly, akin to stripping back superficial layers to expose underlying issues. This historical evolution reflects a shift from its physical connotation to one centered on verbal or written criticism, showcasing the power of language in the realm of critique.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,469, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.