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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butchered
Verb
-
At Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year, a few pigs would be slaughtered and the pork rationed out.—
Michael Sheridan,
Vanity Fair,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Pigs were illegally slaughtered there.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the 88th minute, Neuer fumbled a routine shot and allowed Joselu to equalise.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Fans were exiting en masse in the top of the ninth when Frelick’s RBI single off Rule 5 rookie Ryan Watson, fumbled by reigning AL Gold Glove centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, increased Milwaukee’s lead to three.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the messages, Hooker said that the wind blew him and Lynette apart.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Neighbors and other observers in the area blew whistles, honked horns and yelled outrage, with some recording the detention from a distance, but the agents — wearing military-style fatigues and equipment — got the 57-year-old into a vehicle and drove away.—
Mark Vancleave,
Twin Cities,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most of Arminius’s family had been murdered by Spanish soldiers.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Casey Becker was one of the very first characters to be murdered by Ghostface in the 1996 horror film.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After the game, his face was mangled, with a cut across the bridge of his nose and what looked like a rug burn on his chin.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The facade of the locomotive was badly mangled and the truck also severely damaged, according to an Associated Press journalist at the scene.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The counter in the market’s far right corner, dubbed Club 104, is reserved for emerging talents, changing every few weeks (sometimes sooner).—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The first of two sister ships, dubbed Ilma, debuts in 2024.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Scott would play Ben Wyatt, a former teen mayor who’d ruined his town financially and was now paying penance by becoming a state budget auditor.—
Jennifer Armstrong,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
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Voicer Peter Sulzicki may be correct in that the three-pointer has ruined the game of basketball.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While there are no comprehensive studies comparing the environmental impacts of cultivated versus conventional seafood, alternatives like Wildtype could avoid ocean pollution and overfishing, which have caused losses in biodiversity and destroyed the ocean’s resiliency.—
Jaia Clingham-David,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Apr. 2026
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Yutu destroyed 85% of the Saipan campus of Northern Marianas College, said the school's president, Galvin Deleon Guerrero.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butchered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchered. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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