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mutilate

verb
mu·​ti·​late | \ ˈmyĂŒ-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce mutilate (audio) \
mutilated; mutilating

Definition of mutilate

transitive verb

1 : to cut up or alter radically so as to make imperfect the child mutilated the book with his scissors a painting mutilated by vandals
2 : to cut off or permanently destroy a limb or essential part of : cripple His arm was mutilated in the accident.
Other Words from mutilate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about mutilate

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Other Words from mutilate

mutilator \ ˈmyĂŒ-​tə-​ˌlā-​tər How to pronounce mutilator (audio) \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for mutilate

maim, cripple, mutilate, batter, mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage. maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence. maimed by a shark cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg. crippled for life in an accident 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 batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate. an old ship battered by fierce storms mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds. a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

Examples of mutilate in a Sentence

a painting mutilated by vandals was lucky not to be mutilated in the car crash

Recent Examples on the Web

 The Alp family tree was a stump mutilated by cancer and coronaries. — Colin Barrett, Harper's magazine, "The Alps," 22 July 2019 Lynch mobs mutilated bodies and collected body parts as souvenirs -- all while taking pictures of the corpses and sending them as postcards to friends. — John Blake, CNN, "Why El Paso and other recent attacks in the US are modern-day lynchings," 17 Aug. 2019 One mother’s body was found charred, tied, dragged to a boat and mutilated. — New York Times, "The Schoolteacher and the Genocide," 8 Aug. 2019 Ray McCready, the Mooresville undertaker who embalmed Dillinger’s body sharply criticized the Chicago coroner’s office of mutilating the corpse. — Dawn Mitchell, Indianapolis Star, "John Dillinger's last meal included red peppers. What we know about the outlaw's autopsy and burial.," 2 Aug. 2019 Prosecutors paint him as the mastermind behind a plot to kidnap, torture and extort a Newport Beach man who was mutilated and left in the desert with a female victim. — Julia Sclafani, Daily Pilot, "Ex-wife says she was ‘terrified’ of her husband, who is accused of kidnapping, torture and mutilation," 25 July 2019 The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Tuesday that said Bonilla broke into his neighbor’s home in the town of Bell on Sunday, tied the neighbor up and mutilated his genitals with scissors. — sun-sentinel.com, "Man cut off wife’s lover’s penis with scissors, Florida deputies say," 17 July 2019 According to the East Valley Tribune, police arrested Mesa resident Scott Andrew Graham after at least 12 cats were reported missing and three later turned up dead and mutilated in a neighborhood near Alma School and Guadalupe roads. — Paulina Pineda, azcentral, "Dismembered cats found in Tempe neighborhood. Who — or what — is killing them?," 10 July 2019 Under Indiana law, however, a person who intentionally mutilates, defaces, burns, or tramples any United States flag commits flag desecration. — Crystal Hill, Indianapolis Star, "2 Fishers men arrested in July Fourth burning of American flag, police say," 5 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mutilate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of mutilate

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for mutilate

Latin mutilatus, past participle of mutilare, from mutilus truncated, maimed

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More Definitions for mutilate

mutilate

verb
How to pronounce mutilate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of mutilate

: to cause severe damage to (the body of a person or animal)
: to ruin the beauty of (something) : to severely damage or spoil (something)

See the full definition for mutilate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mutilate

verb
mu·​ti·​late | \ ˈmyĂŒ-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce mutilate (audio) \
mutilated; mutilating

Kids Definition of mutilate

1 : to destroy or cut off a necessary part (as a limb) : maim
2 : to ruin by damaging or changing He mutilated the book with a scissors. The actors mutilated the play.

mutilate

transitive verb
mu·​ti·​late | \ ˈmyĂŒt-ᔊl-ˌāt How to pronounce mutilate (audio) \
mutilated; mutilating

Medical Definition of mutilate

: to cut off or permanently destroy a limb or essential part of mutilate a body also : castrate sense 1

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More from Merriam-Webster on mutilate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with mutilate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mutilate

Spanish Central: Translation of mutilate

Nglish: Translation of mutilate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of mutilate for Arabic Speakers

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