mutilate

play

verb mu·ti·late \ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt\

Definition of mutilate

mutilated

;

mutilating

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 permanently destroy a limb or essential part of : cripple His arm was mutilated in the accident.

mutilation

play \ˌmyü-tə-ˈlā-shən\ noun

mutilator

play \ˈmyü-tə-ˌlā-tər\ noun

See mutilate defined for English-language learners

See mutilate defined for kids

Examples of mutilate in a Sentence

a painting mutilated by vandals
was lucky not to be mutilated in the car crash

Recent Examples of mutilate from the Web

After Till was abducted, beaten, and mutilated by two white men, his mother insisted on an open casket at her son’s funeral to show the barbarism of his killing.

— aria bendix, The Atlantic, "LeBron James Responds to Racist Vandalism of His L.A. Home", 31 May 2017
At one point, Muslims were stoned to death with rocks by mobs in the street, at times decapitated and mutilated.

— krista larson, The Seattle Times, "U.N. lists years of human-rights abuses in Central African Republic, amid fears of resurgence", 30 May 2017
She’d been strangled, her left breast sliced away and her body mutilated by cuts.

— kristina davis, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Judge won't toss lawsuit accusing San Diego police of driving ex-criminalist to suicide", 26 May 2017
Villagers described woman, children, and elderly shot at close range, their bodies mutilated.

— wired staff, WIRED, "Gruesome Violence in Kosovo", 1 Oct. 1998

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

Origin and Etymology of mutilate

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

First Known Use: 1534

Synonym Discussion of mutilate

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

MUTILATE Defined for English Language Learners

mutilate

play

verb

Definition of mutilate for English Language Learners

: to cause severe damage to (the body of a person or animal)
: to ruin the beauty of (something) : to severely damage or spoil (something)

MUTILATE Defined for Kids

mutilate

play

verb mu·ti·late \ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt\

Definition of mutilate for Students

mutilated

;

mutilating

1 : to destroy or cut off a necessary part (as a limb) : maim
2 : to ruin by damaging or changing He mutilated the book with a scissors. The actors mutilated the play.