1
as in slaughtering
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 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
ProPublica has chronicled the dark world of pig butchering, in which human traffickers in Asia force their victims to scam people by posing as friends or potential romantic interests.
—
Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2026
While pig butchering operations are veering toward the sophisticated and professional, horrendous abuses persist.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
By butchering the fish in the restaurant, Hanke reduces the amount of time in which the quality of the fish could deteriorate.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
At first, the recruits wonder if this is all part of the big test, though when the machine starts butchering them, the sole survivors realise that something else is up.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
For nearly half a century, Iran has been a thorn in the side of the United States, killing and maiming American soldiers, butchering Israeli citizens, threatening its neighbors and fostering terror around the globe.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
The same day, a friend sent him an article about pig-butchering schemes.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
This can include field dressing, skinning, butchering into various cuts and packaging.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
However, the miniature accessories didn’t seem to stop a group of humans from felling and butchering the elephant.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 Oct. 2025
Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 11 Apr. 2026
While pig butchering operations are veering toward the sophisticated and professional, horrendous abuses persist.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 Apr. 2026
By butchering the fish in the restaurant, Hanke reduces the amount of time in which the quality of the fish could deteriorate.
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 25 Mar. 2026
At first, the recruits wonder if this is all part of the big test, though when the machine starts butchering them, the sole survivors realise that something else is up.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
For nearly half a century, Iran has been a thorn in the side of the United States, killing and maiming American soldiers, butchering Israeli citizens, threatening its neighbors and fostering terror around the globe.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
The same day, a friend sent him an article about pig-butchering schemes.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
This can include field dressing, skinning, butchering into various cuts and packaging.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 23 Oct. 2025
However, the miniature accessories didn’t seem to stop a group of humans from felling and butchering the elephant.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butchering
Verb
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Livestock numbers are strictly controlled on Tristan, and the community manages the herd by occasionally slaughtering animals for meat and leather.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Apr. 2026
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One thinks of the hundred brothers that Donald Antrim imagined, gathering in the ancestral home to honor their father’s memory and ritually slaughtering one of their own.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With the title in their grasp, the Ducks have greased up their fingers, fumbling into a four-game winless slump.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Last season’s Detroit Tigers endured the worst divisional collapse in history, fumbling an AL Central lead that reached 15 1/2 games in July.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The week will be breezy, with winds blowing 10 mph to 15 mph from the northeast.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bukele has accused them of murdering 200,000 people, including about 80,000 who disappeared without a trace.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Israel has been murdering Palestinians for decades and is now committing genocide—and for the third year running, they’re welcomed back onto the stage.—
Kiana Mickles,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Where was Michael Hill, the commissioner’s office executive serving as Team USA’s general manager, while his manager was mangling the stakes of the situation?—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Bruce, my sincere apology for 40 years of mangling your songs in the car.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Deadline revealed details of the changes last year, with executives dubbing the plan Project Ada.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
-
This gave rise to some constituents dubbing her Lori Tehran, which is the capitol of Iran, something which Grossi was quick to pick up and run with.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These tenacious insects discreetly land on your skin, leaving sudden, itchy, and painful bites that can swell and turn red, ruining a perfectly pleasant outdoor evening.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
18 Apr. 2026
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While the couple was able to laugh it off in the moment, the majority of comments on TikTok were negative, with people accusing Zach of being an attention-seeker and ruining the wedding.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As Miles manages to lift up Lily and get her out of there, MPKs start hurling flash-bangs, destroying the Ed Baldwin shrine and shooting a couple of protesters in the process.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
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Ukrainian forces are systematically striking Russian oil refineries, pipelines, and storage facilities over 600 miles inside Russia, destroying tens of billions in infrastructure and disrupting Moscow’s war finances.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Butchering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butchering. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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