(pronounced ih-VIH-she-rayt)

This imposing word is a negative, often violent one. At its most gruesome, it means to disembowel or remove an internal organ from someone, but its more common usage is to take away another’s strength, power, force or energy.

Example: After the firm’s principal designer absolutely eviscerated all but two project team leaders in front of everyone during the weekly employee meeting, Janelle and her fellow employees sat in an awkward stunned silence.