Flayed

The past tense and past participle of 'flay,' meaning to strip the skin from a body or carcass. Figuratively, it can also describe the severe criticism or punishment of someone. It evokes images of extreme physical or emotional distress and vulnerability. The act often implies a forceful and violent removal, leaving the subject raw and exposed. Beyond its literal interpretation, 'flayed' is also used to depict a subject as raw or vulnerable to public exposure and ridicule.

Flayed meaning with examples

• The ancient executioner meticulously flayed the condemned criminal, a gruesome display designed to deter others from breaking the law. His execution was viewed as an act of brutality and cruelty, stripping him of his human dignity. The onlookers averted their eyes as the criminal screamed. The skin was then placed as a warning on the courthouse doors.
• After the scandal broke, the journalist's reputation was flayed by the media. Every detail of his past was exposed and judged. His professional and personal life became fodder for public scrutiny, leaving him feeling completely exposed and vulnerable to the judgement of others. He was the subject of a hate campaign in the media and the internet.
• The artist's painting depicted a mythological creature flayed to reveal its musculature. The goal was to highlight its internal power. The grotesque image aimed to create a visceral response in the viewer, forcing them to confront the creature's raw power and internal strength, and pushing them to their limits of tolerance for extreme artwork.
• The politician's carefully crafted public image was flayed by the release of damaging emails. The lies and corruption were revealed, and the public turned on him. His supporters vanished and he quickly become an outcast, leaving him completely exposed and his career destroyed in the ashes.