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 Though Hamas had long claimed that Shiri and the children died in an Israeli air strike, an Israeli forensic examination showed that the children were murdered with the bare hands of their captors and then mutilated in an attempt to blame Israelis for their deaths. The Editors, National Review, 24 Feb. 2025 Ancestors from his paternal side survived the Sand Creek Massacre, while many of his ancestors from his maternal side were mutilated and massacred there; and at other genocidal campaigns that followed. Phillip Whiteman Jr., The Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2025 Their bodies were mutilated and burned, and others were thrown into the sea. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for mutilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutilate
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
Verb
  • In the two years since Tommy Elliott was killed in a mass shooting, Maryanne’s grief has, in turns, left her aghast and overwhelmed, bewildered and incapacitated, grateful and wanting to die.
    Kristina Goetz, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
  • The program, now in its 23rd year, partners with programs serving elderly and incapacitated adults across Lake County to develop a continuum of elder law advocacy and guardianship services, the release said.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In Arkansas, officials reported that three people died and 29 others were injured following overnight storms.
    Emma Bowman, NPR, 16 Mar. 2025
  • At least 59 people have died and more than 100 others were injured in a fire at a nightclub.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Higher speeds are more likely to kill or maim people, especially in crashes that involve pedestrians or cyclists.
    Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Even after Punk hit the GTS, Punk refused to cover Rollins since this match was about maiming one another.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In 2013, three people were killed and hundreds were wounded during the Boston Marathon bombings, when two men detonated homemade bombs at the race's finish line.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Madrid, whose calendar is now rather less full, have wounded egos to repair.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The day he was inaugurated, Trump disabled the CBP One mobile app that the Biden administration had utilized since 2023 to create a more orderly process of applying for asylum from the U.S.-Mexico border.
    Rebecca Plevin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Synology's firmware, as of this writing, allows for a configuration file edit that can disable checks for certified drives.
    Kevin Purdy, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Renee Moore worked near the building and relied on its daycare for her 6-month-old son Antonio Cooper Jr., who was among those killed.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Of the four victims who were killed, two were teachers and two were students.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The physician noted scarring on Trump’s right ear, obtained during the first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, 2024.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
  • For others, scarring leaves so little healthy lung tissue that breathing becomes impossible.
    John Green, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mutilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutilate. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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