mutilation
noun
mu·ti·la·tion
ˌmyü-tə-ˈlā-shən 
plural mutilations
1
: an act or instance of destroying, removing, or severely damaging a limb or other body part of a person or animal
the mutilation of a body
They were men who had been sexually damaged by disease, accident, or deliberate mutilation.—
James J. O'Donnell
James J. O'DonnellHis book contains very many gruesome accounts of murder and mutilation, and page after page describing torture in almost salacious detail.—Geoffrey Wheatcroft
see also female genital mutilation
Geoffrey Wheatcroft2
: an act or instance of damaging or altering something radically
Evidence suggests that the mutilation of the sculptures was deliberate.
Thus an author has the right of paternity (authorship) and integrity (the right to object to derogatory actions, distortion, mutilation or other modifications in relation to his or her work that would be prejudicial to the artist's honor or reputation).—Judith Nierman
Judith NiermanCritics described the proposed structure as a "vast pile of masonry" that they feared would never be removed and would become a "permanent mutilation of Hyde Park."—Henry Petroski
Henry PetroskiExamples of mutilation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The report includes accounts of mass looting, arson and mutilation.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
But in describing the attacks, language itself performs its own secondary mutilation.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
This online collection included images of mutilation and tying up women with ropes, two things prosecutors said are consistent with injuries inflicted on Mack and how she was bound.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
Child mutilation is not a parental right and on the contrary, should be criminal.
—Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutilation
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Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025
But in describing the attacks, language itself performs its own secondary mutilation.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
This online collection included images of mutilation and tying up women with ropes, two things prosecutors said are consistent with injuries inflicted on Mack and how she was bound.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025
Child mutilation is not a parental right and on the contrary, should be criminal.
—Jackson Walker, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutilation
Cite this Entry
“Mutilation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutilation. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mutilation
noun
mu·ti·la·tion
ˌmyüt-ᵊl-ˈā-shən
1
: deprivation of a limb or essential part especially by excision
the mutilation of a body
2
: an instance of mutilating
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