1
as in slaughtering
to kill on a large scale
the barbarians butchered the monks in the monasteries without mercy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in fumbling
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 butchering
But there’s only one way to get good at butchering, and that’s to do a bunch of it each fall — and follow these tips.
—
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 28 Aug. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bushmeat has the potential to spread diseases like Ebola due to hunting, butchering, and processing meat from infected animals.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Jarrett Stidham’s preseason stats, after another night spent butchering another second-team defense, are Madden Career Mode-worthy.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
This pattern of alterations appears to be most consistent with butchering and not injuries sustained during fighting or a victor removing a body part as a trophy.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025
Calio artifacts The Calio artifacts are small, sharp flakes, the kind of tools early humans would have used for tasks like butchering animals or processing plants.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2025
Just as pig butchering schemes migrated to the US in 2021, some believe these digital arrest deepfake scams will migrate in 2025.
—Frank McKenna, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Analysis of the more than 3,000 bones has suggested that unidentified assailants violently killed at least 37 men, women and children before butchering and cannibalizing their victims between 2210 and 2010 BC at a site called Charterhouse Warren, which is located in Somerset.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Learning a new language involves getting your words mixed up, struggling to learn grammatical rules and butchering the accent.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 28 Aug. 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bushmeat has the potential to spread diseases like Ebola due to hunting, butchering, and processing meat from infected animals.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Jarrett Stidham’s preseason stats, after another night spent butchering another second-team defense, are Madden Career Mode-worthy.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2025
This pattern of alterations appears to be most consistent with butchering and not injuries sustained during fighting or a victor removing a body part as a trophy.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025
Calio artifacts The Calio artifacts are small, sharp flakes, the kind of tools early humans would have used for tasks like butchering animals or processing plants.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2025
Just as pig butchering schemes migrated to the US in 2021, some believe these digital arrest deepfake scams will migrate in 2025.
—Frank McKenna, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Analysis of the more than 3,000 bones has suggested that unidentified assailants violently killed at least 37 men, women and children before butchering and cannibalizing their victims between 2210 and 2010 BC at a site called Charterhouse Warren, which is located in Somerset.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
Learning a new language involves getting your words mixed up, struggling to learn grammatical rules and butchering the accent.
—Carl Anka, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butchering
Verb
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Some discussed potential restrictions included the ban of roosters, the ban of slaughtering chickens and requirements around upkeep.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Sep. 2025
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These small banks are slaughtering the low expectations the market set for them.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Boise State played an uneven first half in Tampa, fumbling twice and committing a huge penalty that gave life to a South Florida touchdown drive.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Facial recognition can help reduce wait times, eliminate the hassle of fumbling with documents and free up staff to focus on higher-value service.—
Jeff Kim,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But the Ravens are gaining on them after blowing a 15-point lead to the Bills in the fourth quarter of the teams’ epic opener Sunday night.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The new season sets Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) on a quest to find whoever is threatening the life of her roommate Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers), and murdering people near the campus of Nevermore Academy with the help of a murder of crows.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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When he was first questioned by the police, the outlet alleged that Mirza accused a drug dealer of murdering Marsuk, saying that he was also injured and threatened in the altercation.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Several other videos dubbing Skrilla's lyrics grew in popularity at the start of 2025.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Think visual effects, dubbing and storyboarding.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lewis Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari and crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix, ruining a chance to nab a good haul of points.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
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Thanks, man, for ruining an almost-letter-perfect red-carpet walk.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Butchering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchering. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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