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
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The 31-year-old target man scored a late winner against Mbappe’s Madrid to hoist Mallorca out of the bottom three a fortnight ago, and was mobbed by his team-mates as the final whistle blew.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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When the full-time whistle blew at the Etihad Stadium in northern England on Sunday, the live broadcast quickly focused on a close-up of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The family of the cabaret artist Fritz Grünbaum, who was murdered in the Holocaust, for example, was able to recover works by Viennese Expressionist artist Egon Schiele that were in Grünbaum’s vast personal collection in 2018 after decades of efforts.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
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During production, Fosse insisted that Roberts spend the night in the actual apartment where Dorothy Stratten, the real-life Playboy Playmate of the Year from 1980, was murdered by her husband and manager, Paul Snider, the role Roberts was playing.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
20 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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The City of Fort Lauderdale has been in need of a new city hall after the historic flooding of April 2023 ruined its old city hall.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, the everyday American who borrowed in good faith has been pursued, garnished and financially ruined when things go wrong, while the universities that pocketed the money walk away without consequence.—
Michael Carbonara,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While in the region, Curiosity recently utilized its onboard Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite, built to search for compounds of the element carbon that are associated with life and investigate ways in which these compounds are generated and destroyed in the Martian ecosphere.—
Leonard David,
Space.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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That investigation stemmed from a June 8, 1995, fire that destroyed a ValuJet DC-9 on a runway at Atlanta.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butchered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchered. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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