mangle

¹man·gle

verb \ˈmaŋ-gəl\

man·gledman·gling\-g(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of MANGLE

transitive verb

1

: to injure with deep disfiguring wounds by cutting, tearing, or crushing <people … mangled by sharks — V. G. Heiser>

2

: to spoil, injure, or make incoherent especially through ineptitude <a story mangled beyond recognition>

— man·gler \-g(ə-)lər\ noun

Origin of MANGLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French mangler, mahangler, perhaps from mahaigner to maim — more at mayhem

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with MANGLE

angle, bangle, dangle, jangle, mangel, spangle, strangle, tangle, wangle, wrangle