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
The deer must be completely butchered and de-boned before it can be brought into the state.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
When a crew lands a whale, it's usually butchered on a nearby beach.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Using methods including high-resolution 3D scanning, researchers found that many of the 92 fragments bear cut marks on their inner surfaces, indicating that the turtles were carefully butchered by Neanderthals — with limbs detached, internal organs removed and shells thoroughly cleaned.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
According to the Times coverage of the incident and subsequent lawsuit, the scenes shown in the classroom included autopsies, decaying cadavers and live animals being butchered, mutilated and tortured.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Nova — who was working a second job as a delivery driver to provide for his family — had a little more than $100 on him when he was robbed and butchered.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
And so the buffalo were butchered and sold for their tongues and hides, and their bones were ground and used for fine china.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Tell the people that you were basically butchered by your trauma.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The multi-page menu also includes steaks butchered, dry-aged and hand-cut by Olsen, reserve steak cuts such as a picanha, and steak specials such as a 40-ounce tomahawk ribeye.
—Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
When a crew lands a whale, it's usually butchered on a nearby beach.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Using methods including high-resolution 3D scanning, researchers found that many of the 92 fragments bear cut marks on their inner surfaces, indicating that the turtles were carefully butchered by Neanderthals — with limbs detached, internal organs removed and shells thoroughly cleaned.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
According to the Times coverage of the incident and subsequent lawsuit, the scenes shown in the classroom included autopsies, decaying cadavers and live animals being butchered, mutilated and tortured.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
Nova — who was working a second job as a delivery driver to provide for his family — had a little more than $100 on him when he was robbed and butchered.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
And so the buffalo were butchered and sold for their tongues and hides, and their bones were ground and used for fine china.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Tell the people that you were basically butchered by your trauma.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The multi-page menu also includes steaks butchered, dry-aged and hand-cut by Olsen, reserve steak cuts such as a picanha, and steak specials such as a 40-ounce tomahawk ribeye.
—Amanda Hancock, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butchered
Verb
-
When the MPKs didn’t know the Marines’ secret code word, the Marines slaughtered them and then shrugged and walked away from all their dead bodies to stay on mission (as in, kill more Marsies).—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
As with the others, the pitiless treatment only ends when they’re slaughtered.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
During Miami’s two periods of special teams work Malik Washington fumbled his first kickoff return, but most of the other punt returners and kickoff returned fielded their attempts well.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
-
Given how badly Karen Bass has fumbled as mayor, Raman couldn’t do much worse.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Daily News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The 2006 Royals had the worst bullpen ERA in baseball and blew 31 saves.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
-
The Boston Celtics blew a 3-1 lead to the 76ers in the first round and the Detroit Pistons lost to the Cavaliers in seven games in the second round.—
Lev Akabas,
Sportico.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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As the media narrative went, a 27-year-old gay serial killer named Andrew Cunanan had murdered five wealthy gay paramours, the last of whom was the fashion designer Gianni Versace.—
Adam Turner,
Vanity Fair,
1 June 2026
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In his original tweet on May 31, 2020, Napear responded to a question from former Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, who asked Napear for his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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As reported by Euronews, the opening planned for this weekend has been postponed to an unspecified date after severe winds mangled part of the artwork on the oldest bridge in the French capital.—
Andy Battaglia,
ARTnews.com,
3 June 2026
-
Chopper 4 was on the scene where a white car was flipped over and completely mangled.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Wealthy sunseekers still summer in many of these Gilded Age mansions, but a smattering of the most grand estates are open to the public as museums, dubbed the Newport Mansions.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
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In a 2021 study, the company demonstrated that its neutralizing antibody can suppress a protein, dubbed USAG-1, which inhibits the growth of tooth buds.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Items that fall in the toilet are soggy, in need of sanitizing, and possibly ruined.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
-
Our house, ruined by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, was rebuilt from the foundation up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Russian air defenses intercepted and destroyed more than 350 Ukrainian drones over territories both close to the border but also as further afield as Moscow, St Petersburg, and Novgorod in the country’s west, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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Twelve people were killed, including two young boys, in the southeastern city of Dnipro, where a four-story apartment building was partially destroyed, local officials said.—
Valentyn Ogirenko,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butchered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchered. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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