mutilate

verb

mu·​ti·​late ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt How to pronounce mutilate (audio)
mutilated; mutilating; mutilates

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 cause severe damage to a limb or essential part of
His arm was mutilated in the accident.
mutilator noun
plural mutilators
Choose the Right Synonym for mutilate

maim, mutilate, mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage.

maim implies the loss or injury of a body part.

maimed by a shark

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

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 These laws require that sharks brought ashore by fishermen have all their fins naturally attached and aim to end the practice of stripping the creatures of their fins and returning them, mutilated, to the water to die on the seafloor. Angela Posada-Swafford, Discover Magazine, 28 June 2024 Therefore, under Roberts’s reading, subsection (2) must be read to only capture activities similar to the ones described in subsection (1) — that is, activity like altering, destroying, mutilating, or concealing a record or document. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 28 June 2024 Anderson was charged in mid-April with first-degree intentional homicide, mutilating a corpse and arson. Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 17 May 2024 A week after his arrest, Anderson was charged with first-degree intentional homicide (which carries a life sentence), mutilating a corpse and arson. Drake Bentley, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mutilate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mutilate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mutilate was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near mutilate

Cite this Entry

“Mutilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutilate. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

mutilate

verb
mu·​ti·​late ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt How to pronounce mutilate (audio)
mutilated; mutilating
1
: to make imperfect by cutting or altering severely : ruin
mutilate a play
2
: to cut off or destroy a necessary part (as a limb) : maim
mutilation noun
mutilator noun

Medical Definition

mutilate

transitive verb
mu·​ti·​late ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt How to pronounce mutilate (audio)
mutilated; mutilating
: to cut off or cause severe damage to a limb or essential part of
mutilate a body

More from Merriam-Webster on mutilate

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