mutilate

verb

ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce mutilate (audio)
Definition of mutilatenext
as in to cripple
to cause severe or permanent injury to was lucky not to be mutilated in the car crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mutilate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mutilate are batter, cripple, maim, and mangle. While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function.

a tree mutilated by inept pruning

Where would batter be a reasonable alternative to mutilate?

Although the words batter and mutilate have much in common, batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate.

an old ship battered by fierce storms

When is cripple a more appropriate choice than mutilate?

The words cripple and mutilate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg.

crippled for life in an accident

When can maim be used instead of mutilate?

The meanings of maim and mutilate largely overlap; however, maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence.

maimed by a shark

When could mangle be used to replace mutilate?

While in some cases nearly identical to mutilate, mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds.

a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mutilate The victim of a kidnapping attempt that left him mutilated, Richard is still nursing trauma from that incident. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025 Spencer’s desire to move on finally makes Dexter see the truth, and the show assaults us with flashbacks from this very episode that all point to Spencer being the person who murdered Jimmy Powell and kidnapped and mutilated Nicky. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 24 Jan. 2025 Blichfeldt indulges in this gruesome atmosphere and considers what other ways a young woman might mutilate herself for acceptance. —Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025 All five of the women were prostitutes and they were all mutilated, except for one, according to the BBC. —Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 14 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mutilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutilate
  1. cripple
  2. incapacitate
  3. injure
  4. maim
  5. wound
  6. disable
  7. kill
  8. scar
Verb
  • About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.
    — Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2023
  • Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.
    — Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
Definition of cripple
Verb
  • Unlike snakes that rely on camouflage and venom yield to incapacitate prey, the black mamba’s strategy is shock-and-awe defense.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • If she was incapacitated by a crash, her car could’ve veered into the river.
    — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of incapacitate
Verb
  • Boosie Badazz is counting his blessings after walking away from a massive car crash in Georgia that left multiple drivers and passengers injured.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Two officers were also taken to the hospital but were not injured, sources said.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of injure
Verb
  • Trump then pardoned more than 1,500 rioters in his first days in the White House, including those convicted of maiming law enforcers.
    — Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Here, that combination is less jarring because the slaughter flows organically from the premise: Because Nate doesn’t respond much to pain, he gets beaten and maimed even harder.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of maim
Verb
  • Sheriff McDowell, who's on the ground wounded, sees Banner kill Clyde.
    — Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • On April 2, Russian forces launched multiple strikes on residential areas in the front line city of Pokrovsk, killing one civilian and wounding six others.
    — Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of wound
Verb
  • From there, Alvarado drove to Chicago Ridge and the police vehicle was disabled on train tracks, prosecutors said.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The notice said email accounts would be disabled and instructs employees to leave laptops and work cellphones in the office, according to text of the email shared with CBS News.
    — Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of disable
Verb
  • Rick kills one of the security men, as Chelsea is shot in the chest.
    — Colleen Kratofil, People.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Scottish sheep farmer and Whitfield’s right-hand man, Banner Creighton, experiences a change of heart in the final episode but is killed at the station after saving Jacob’s life.
    — Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of kill
Verb
  • Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring on the lungs, wherein scar tissue blocks oxygen from the air sacs in the lungs from getting into the bloodstream.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Leaving a natural finish, this cream features hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin E to veil the look of acne scarring, wrinkles, redness, pores, and discoloration with ease.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of scar

Browse Nearby Words

mutes
mutilate
mutilated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mutilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutilate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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