1
as in slaughtered
to kill on a large scale
the barbarians butchered the monks in the monasteries without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in fumbled
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way
the new piano student butchered the sonatina
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of butchered
Heavy snow, extreme winds and rough seas kept the whales from being butchered in a timely fashion.
—
Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
This is the second time his beloved arid succulent has been butchered, with the first incident taking place in 2022.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Because, like other market animals, even the plush, adorable bovine winners end up butchered and sent to supermarkets.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Now sixty-five, Petro is a survivor of a brutal era in which the Colombian state assassinated leftist leaders and butchered their followers, in an effort to quell the country’s Marxist guerrilla forces.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
Because the puppies were found near a site where ancient humans had butchered woolly mammoths, researchers had wondered whether they might be domesticated dogs, as opposed to wolves.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
Bavette is known for its high-quality meats sourced from small producers and butchered in-house.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Late in the second period, the Blue Jackets, still leading 4-1, continually butchered the puck in their own zone, almost presenting it to the Penguins as an offering.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
At the time that the cut was identified, researchers proposed that the mark proved that First Peoples butchered ancient megafauna.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
This is the second time his beloved arid succulent has been butchered, with the first incident taking place in 2022.
—Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Because, like other market animals, even the plush, adorable bovine winners end up butchered and sent to supermarkets.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Now sixty-five, Petro is a survivor of a brutal era in which the Colombian state assassinated leftist leaders and butchered their followers, in an effort to quell the country’s Marxist guerrilla forces.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
Because the puppies were found near a site where ancient humans had butchered woolly mammoths, researchers had wondered whether they might be domesticated dogs, as opposed to wolves.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
Bavette is known for its high-quality meats sourced from small producers and butchered in-house.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Late in the second period, the Blue Jackets, still leading 4-1, continually butchered the puck in their own zone, almost presenting it to the Penguins as an offering.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
At the time that the cut was identified, researchers proposed that the mark proved that First Peoples butchered ancient megafauna.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butchered
Verb
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The Kurds have been marginalized, persecuted and slaughtered by the likes of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and before those states existed, the Ottoman Empire.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Thousands of English troops were being slaughtered in the trench warfare against Germany.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In turn, the Heat fumbled it away.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The attempt to create a viable and vibrant residential hub arrives after years of neglect and fumbled strategies by the prior owner, an affiliate of real estate firm Z&L Properties.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Back then, the average team still featured three starters who threw enough innings to qualify for the ERA title, probably had an ace who blew past 200 innings and had multiple pitchers with double-digit wins.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
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After Lathan Sommerville drew consecutive trips to the line, and no whistle blew when Dent was contacted on a drive, Cronin ran onto the court, throwing his fists in anger, and yelling at an official.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The book's Japanese translator was murdered, and others associated with it were attacked.—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In a desperate bid to recover his losses, he's murdered after fixing a boxing match.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The car was mangled beyond recognition.—
Darius Johnson,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Francisco Carmona, Córdoba’s fire chief, told Spanish national radio RNE that one of the trains was badly mangled, with at least four wagons off the rails.—
Joseph Wilson,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In college, my roommates and I painted our front door pink and thus, our home was henceforth dubbed 'Pink Door'.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Officially dubbed the Air Max Goadome Cowboy Boot, the black leather shoe has double monk strap embossed with Public School branding wrapping across the tongue.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Certain songs could be ruined forever.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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Romero’s red card for a foul on Casemiro in the 29th minute of Tottenham’s defeat to Manchester United on Saturday ruined Frank’s game plan.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The storm that destroyed the home of Shaun and Karen Powers hit three months after the phone call that put an end to Coppermark’s strategy of flooding the insurance department with complaints.—
J.C. Hallman,
Oklahoman,
10 Feb. 2026
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The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butchered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchered. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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