maim

verb

\ ˈmām

maimed; maiming; maims

Definition of maim

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to commit the felony of mayhem upon

2 : to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously

maim

noun

Definition of maim (Entry 2 of 2)

1 obsolete : serious physical injury especially : loss of a member of the body

2 obsolete : a serious loss

Other Words from maim Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about maim

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for maim

Verb

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 maim in a Sentence

Verb

The bomb killed 16 people and maimed several others. on-the-job accidents maim far too many workers every year

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Chinese companies have used official connections to avoid accountability for producing a range of defective products that kill and maim. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "China’s Vaccine Scandal," 27 July 2018 The army has also fired mortar shells indiscriminately in and around Laiza for years, killing and maiming residents. — Washington Post, "In northern Myanmar, forgotten Kachin conflict intensifies," 25 Apr. 2018 Unfortunately many of the bomblets in such weapons later went on to kill and maim civilians. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Army Is Using Robots to Dismantle Hazardous Rockets," 26 Feb. 2019 Dozens of White Helmet members have been killed and many more have been injured and maimed—often in the regime’s double-tap attacks that target those who come to rescue the victims of an initial attack. — Raja Abdulrahim, WSJ, "Hundreds of Syrian Rescuers Evacuated as Assad Tightens Grip on Rebel Areas," 22 July 2018 The 21,000 violations of children's rights included 10,000 who were slain or maimed, especially in Iraq, Myanmar, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, the report said. — Verena Dobnik, Fox News, "UN: 10,000 children killed, maimed in conflicts worldwide," 27 June 2018 The 21,000 violations of children’s rights included 10,000 who were slain or maimed, especially in Iraq, Myanmar, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, the report said. — Washington Post, "UN: 10,000 children killed, maimed in conflicts worldwide," 27 June 2018 Both then and now, programs such as EERE and ARPA-E are just too popular among Democrats and enough Republicans in Congress to be maimed or killed. — Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: Trump did more for 'clean coal' in one week than in all of 2017," 13 Feb. 2018 And this is to ignore the maimed, the shellshocked and the devastated—all those walking casualties who, when straying into the fiction of the 1920s, are instantly recognizable by their detachment from the social life that oozes on around them. — D.j. Taylor, WSJ, "‘Wasteland’ Review: Ghosts of the Great War," 18 Jan. 2019

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