BUTCHERED Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

butchered

verb

past tense of butcher

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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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of butchered The plague victims likely hunted, skinned and butchered marmots for their meat and fur, which would have exposed members of the community to the bacteria, Macleod said. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for butchered

Verb

First, the animals whose skins would become parchment—typically sheep or calves—had to be slaughtered; a complete bible required the skins of around five hundred sheep.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
After Hamas slaughtered over 1,200 people on 10/7, including more than 40 Americans, the IDF is reactivating 45 military bases spread out between Israel and Jordan.

— Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of slaughtered

Verb

But in her concentration, Porsha fumbled her words, which made the Faithfuls, who were desperate for a crumb of evidence so early in the game, suspicious of her sincerity.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Before that, Tampa Bay fumbled scoring opportunities in five of the first seven innings and stranded five overall.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 June 2026

Definition of fumbled

Verb

After the final whistle blew and this Norway team had made history, Haaland took a moment and looked into the Norwegian cheering section, trying to process what had just happened.

— Tim Rohan, NBC news, 6 July 2026
There were also great chances for Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Spanish star, but nothing that got over the line and into the back of the net before the first half whistle blew.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Definition of blew

Verb

In 2019, a German nurse who murdered 87 patients by deliberately bringing about cardiac arrests was given a life sentence.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
People were becoming aware of the tens of millions of victims who had been murdered by communist regimes over the previous decades.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of murdered

Verb

The hood of the SUV was mangled, and the glass front door of the mini-mart was wrecked.

— Lou Kleinberg, CBS News, 17 June 2026
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

Definition of mangled

Verb

Fines for such infractions in West Newport Beach and the Peninsula — dubbed safety enhancement zones — will be tripled through July 6.

— Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
The celebrations also included a maritime ship show, dubbed Sail4th 250, in the harbor and a flyover by the Blue Angels.

— Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026

Definition of dubbed

Verb

Michael seemed to be saying that by admitting her dishonesty, Ethel would have ruined their childhood and poisoned any prospect of a future relationship with her.

— Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
Instead of fighting with Whitney, Lindsay has a talk with Yvonne about how Lindsay ruined Yvonne’s wedding by making it all about her.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 8 July 2026

Definition of ruined

Verb

One residence was damaged and a minor structure was destroyed, according to an incident update.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
After powerful twin earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela and destroyed their home in the coastal town of Caraballeda last month, Maria and her brother Damian, 13, were taken in by their aunt, Mercedes Osul.

— Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

Definition of destroyed

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butchered

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“Butchered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchered. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of butchered

verb

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