Strip the skin off (4)

I believe the answer is:

flay

'strip the skin off' is the definition.
(synonyms)

This is the entire clue.

(Other definitions for flay that I've seen before include "Strip skin from (a body)" , "Fiercely criticise" , "Savagely criticise; skin" , "Strip the skin from (a carcass)" , "thrash" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times and The Guardian.

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