maim

\ ˈmām

How to pronounce maim (audio)

\

maimed; maiming; maims

Definition of maim

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously

2 : to commit the felony of mayhem upon

maim

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

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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 Jayyousi was convicted of conspiracy to murder, kidnap and maim people overseas and two counts of providing material support to terrorists. — Nausheen Husain, chicagotribune.com, "‘Guantanamo North’ prison units in the Midwest are under fire for their harsh conditions. After 10 years, one man is still fighting his case.," 6 Dec. 2019 Worldwide, poor access to affordable antivenom puts the snakebite death toll near 100,000 annually, with millions more maimed or crippled. — Megan Molteni, Wired, "Scientists Figured Out the Indian Cobra's Genome—at Last," 6 Jan. 2020 Lebanon still has a long way to go, particularly in the south, where mines and cluster bombs still kill and maim. — Washington Post, "Lebanese clear civil war-era mines from famed cedar forests," 27 Sep. 2019 Lebanon still has a long way to go, particularly in the south, where mines and cluster bombs still kill and maim. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Lebanese clear civil war-era mines from famed cedar forests," 27 Sep. 2019 Many young people have seen friends killed, maimed or hauled off by security forces. — Sameer Yasir, New York Times, "Anxious and Cooped Up, 1.5 Million Kashmiri Children Are Still Out of School," 31 Oct. 2019 Based on the hit podcast of the same name, Dr. Death follows the true story of a surgeon who left dozens of his patients either permanently maimed or dead. — Adam Epstein, Quartz, "All the movies and TV shows you need to know about in 2020," 31 Dec. 2019 By 2010, the Pentagon spent $19 billion on technology to combat IEDs that were killing and maiming thousands of troops. — Alex Horton, chicagotribune.com, "The dog who helped kill Baghdadi met Trump. But Conan is just the latest canine war hero.," 26 Nov. 2019 Those who came home maimed from the trenches of the first world war, meanwhile, were cared for at the Star & Garter Home, built by the gates of Richmond Park in 1916. — B.r., The Economist, "The violent history of London’s Royal Parks," 22 Nov. 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.

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Last Updated

15 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Maim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maim. Accessed 26 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for maim

maim

verb

English Language Learners Definition of maim

: to injure (someone) very badly by violence

See the full definition for maim in the English Language Learners Dictionary

maim

\ ˈmām

\

maimed; maiming

Kids Definition of maim

: to injure badly or cripple by violence

maim

transitive verb

\ ˈmām

\

Medical Definition of maim

1 : to commit the felony of mayhem upon

2 : to wound seriously : mutilate, disable

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maim

transitive verb

\ ˈmām

\

Legal Definition of maim

: to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously — compare mayhem

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