| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | criticize severely |
| Synonyms: | baste, bawl out, beat, berate, blister, cane, censure, chasten, chastise, chew out, come down on, correct, criticize, discipline, drag over the coals, dress down, drub, excoriate, flay, flog, jump down one's throat, lambaste, lash, lay out, lean on, penalize, pummel, punish, rail, rate, read the riot act, ream, rebuke, reprimand, scarify, scathe, scold, scorch, scourge, thrash, tongue-lash, upbraid, whip |
| Antonyms: | compliment, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | cyst |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | unusual growth |
| Synonyms: | bag, bleb, blister, injury, pouch, sac, sore, vesicle, wen |
| Main Entry: | defame |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | inflict libel or slander |
| Synonyms: | asperse, bad-mouth, belie, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, cast aspersions on, cast slur on, denigrate, detract, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, disparage, do a number on, knock, malign, pan, put zingers on, roast, scandalize, scorch, slam, smear, speak evil of, stigmatize, throw mud at, traduce, vilify, villainize, vituperate |
| Antonyms: | approve, commend, compliment, exalt, praise |
| Main Entry: | denigrate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | belittle, malign |
| Synonyms: | asperse, bad mouth, besmirch, blacken, blister, calumniate, decry, defame, dis, disparage, give black eye, impugn, knock*, libel, mudsling, put down*, revile, rip up, roast, run down, scandalize, slander, tear down, traduce, vilify |
| Antonyms: | boost, cherish, compliment, praise |
| Main Entry: | detract |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | take away a part; lessen |
| Synonyms: | backbite, belittle, blister, cheapen, cut rate, decrease, decry, depreciate, derogate, devaluate, diminish, discount, discredit, disesteem, draw away, knock*, laugh at, lower, minimize, misprize, reduce, subtract from, underrate, undervalue, vilipend, withdraw, write off |
| Antonyms: | add to, increase, optimize |
| Main Entry: | excoriate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | denounce, criticize |
| Synonyms: | attack, berate, blister, castigate, censure, chastise, condemn, flay, lambaste, lash, rebuke, reproach, reprove, revile, scathe, scold, scorch, slash, tear into, upbraid, vilify |
| Antonyms: | compliment, laud, praise |
| Main Entry: | fester |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | intensify; become inflamed |
| Synonyms: | aggravate, blister, canker, chafe, decay, gall, gather, irk, maturate, putrefy, rankle, rot, smolder, suppurate, ulcer, ulcerate |
| Antonyms: | dissipate, get better, heal, lessen |
| Main Entry: | flake |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | peel off |
| Synonyms: | blister, chip, delaminate, desquamate, drop, exfoliate, pare, scab, scale, shed, slice, sliver, trim, wear away |
| Main Entry: | humiliate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | embarrass, put down |
| Synonyms: | abase, abash, base, bemean, blister, break, bring down, bring low, cast down, chagrin, chasten, confound, confuse, conquer, crush*, cut down to size, debase, degrade, demean, denigrate, deny, depress, discomfit, discountenance, disgrace, dishonor, downplay, humble, lower, make a fool of, make ashamed, mortify, pan, play down, put out of countenance, put to shame, rip*, run down, shame, shoot down, slam*, smear, snub, squash, subdue, take down a peg, take down, tear down, vanquish, wither |
| Antonyms: | build up, elevate, laud, praise |