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.

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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

Even mentioning the existence of the center was officially banned by the government, which at one point led to 400,000 copies of a Soviet tourism magazine being mutilated to keep the secret from getting out.

— ken jennings, CNT, "The Exact Location of Russia's Center Was Once a State Secret," 14 Aug. 2017
The 26-year-old mother of two, who had a history of prostitution arrests, was found mutilated outside a motel near Villa Park where Spreitzer was living after the men abducted her near Wrigley Field in May 1981.

— christy gutowski, chicagotribune.com, "Member of sadistic Ripper Crew due for prison release, unless prosecutors can stop it," 11 Aug. 2017
In addition to the felony murder charges, Boyce and Spencer are charged with arson and mutilating a corpse, both as a party to the crime.

— ashley luthern, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "3 charged in robbery, beating death of 70-year-old Milwaukee man found inside a burning duplex," 24 July 2017
Family members said Villalobos’ face had been mutilated and he was identified, in part, by a tattoo on his arm.

— paula mcmahon, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broward teen was brutally murdered by MS-13 gang members in New York, feds say," 18 July 2017
Text and photographs had been removed from the sign, similar to the destruction of another sign by the river where Till’s lynched, mutilated body was found.

— angela helm, The Root, "Mo. High School Students ‘Repair’ Vandalized Emmett Till Memorial," 2 July 2017
The cover, by Chaykin, features a Pakistani man hanging by a noose, with his genitalia exposed and mutilated, and a name badge pinned to his chest bearing a racial epithet.

— graeme mcmillan, The Hollywood Reporter, "Controversial 'Divided States of Hysteria' Comic Sparks Social Media Uproar Over Graphic Cover," 30 June 2017
Bryant's husband and another man allegedly abducted the 14-year-old, beat and mutilated him, tied him to a 75-pound cotton gin fan and threw him in the Tallahatchie River.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "An Emmett Till historical marker in Mississippi is vandalized - again," 26 June 2017
At least two pregnant women were sliced open and their fetuses mutilated.

— saleh mwanamilongo, The Seattle Times, "Report: 3,300 dead since central Congo conflict began," 20 June 2017

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

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First Known Use: 1534

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mutilate Synonyms

Synonyms

cripple, disable, incapacitate, lame, maim

Related Words

dismember, hamstring, hobble, paralyze; batter, bruise, bung up, mangle, maul, rough (up); gore, lacerate, wing, wound; disfigure, scar; kneecap; break, damage, harm, hurt, impair, injure; bash, beat, belt, bludgeon, buffet, drub, hammer, lace, lambaste (or lambast), lick, paste, pelt, pommel, pound, pummel, thump; bang, box, hit, punch, slap, smack, smash, sock, spank, swat, swipe, thrash, thwack, whack; flog, lash, wallop, whip; kill, murder; torment, torture

Near Antonyms

cure, heal, rehabilitate, remedy; doctor, fix, mend, patch; rejuvenate, renew, repair, restore

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

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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.

Medical Dictionary

mutilate

play

transitive verb mu·ti·late \ ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt \

medical Definition of mutilate

mutilated; mutilating

:to cut off or permanently destroy a limb or essential part of

mutilate a body

; also :castrate 1

Learn More about mutilate

See words that rhyme with mutilate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mutilate Spanish Central: Translation of mutilate Nglish: Translation of mutilate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mutilate for Arabic speakers

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Origin and Etymology of mutilate

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MUTILATE Defined for English Language Learners

mutilate

Definition of mutilate for English Language Learners

MUTILATE Defined for Kids

mutilate

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mutilate

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