flay

verb

ˈflā How to pronounce flay (audio)
Definition of flaynext
1
as in to scold
to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings her husband flayed her constantly for her incessant shopping

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to peel
to remove the natural covering of flayed their kill right there in the forest, taking both the meat and the skin home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flay Grammy winner Williams flays the mysterious character, and opens the show with her powerful vocals. — Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024 The radical potential of the scene has mostly evaporated, flattened and flayed into vague signifiers. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2024 Some of the homes were shoved off their concrete footings, while others had their roofs flayed off by the wind. — Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2024 Among the dead was Hugh de Cressingham, the king’s treasurer, whose corpse was reportedly flayed to make a sheath for Wallace’s sword. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for flay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flay
  1. scold
  2. peel
  3. lecture
  4. reprimand
Verb
  • Michelle Obama playfully scolded her husband, Barack Obama, on her new podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • According to Smith, James, who approached him in the third quarter during a timeout, scolded him for his commentary regarding his son and teammate, Bronny James.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of scold
Verb
  • But Moscow has doubled down on its efforts to peel back Ukraine's control around Sudzha in recent days, the remaining major settlement held by Kyiv in Kursk.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
  • During the journey, participants can keep their eyes peeled for a wide variety of avian species spanning from the black-legged kittiwake to the razorbill to the Caspian tern, and to sweeten the deal, the surrounding waters are also brimming with humpback whales from early summer to late fall.
    — Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of peel
Verb
  • Tristan is doing a surprisingly good job at lecturing the Royal Army Veterinary Corps soldiers about taking care of mules and the like.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The hostages forum described Moses as an expert agronomist who lectured on agriculture and helped maintain the kibbutz’s community vegetable garden.
    — ASSOCIATED PRESS, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
Definition of lecture
Verb
  • Trump and Vance reprimanded Zelensky, accusing him of lacking gratitude for U.S. aid.
    — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Police had stern words for one teenager caught surfing and four others were also reprimanded for putting themselves and others in danger.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of reprimand

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Cite this Entry

“Flay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flay. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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