Direction : In the following questions, out of the given four alternatives,…
2025
Direction : In the following questions, out of the given four alternatives, select the one which best expresses the farthest meaning of the given word.
Excoriate
Answer: D. flay — Explanation: “Excoriate” has two related senses: to strip or damage the surface of the skin, and to criticize someone severely. Best match: flay — to strip…
- A.
cover
- B.
abrade
- C.
chafe
- D.
flay
Attempted by 9 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation: “Excoriate” has two related senses: to strip or damage the surface of the skin, and to criticize someone severely.
Best match: flay — to strip the skin off or to attack verbally; this makes it the closest meaning to 'excoriate'.
Why the other choices are less suitable:
cover — means to place something over or conceal; essentially the opposite of stripping or exposing.
abrade — to wear away by friction; related to damaging a surface but usually gentler or more gradual than excoriate/flay.
chafe — to rub and cause irritation; milder and focused on rubbing rather than active stripping or harsh verbal attack.
Example: The review flayed the author for the careless research and weak arguments.