as in to bruise
to cut (someone's flesh) deeply or roughly
The broken glass lacerated his feet. The patient's hand was severely lacerated.
Related Words
Relevance
variants
or lacerated
as in shredded
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 lacerate
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
But in Room 348, the bullet had entered Greg’s scrotum, tearing upward into his body, lacerating his organs and breaking bones before lodging deep in his chest.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 19 July 2025
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2024
Reared in New York's indelicate political culture, Trump does not like to appear meek, using rallies and his Twitter account to lacerate rivals.
—Paul Schwartzman and Josh Dawsey, chicagotribune.com, 9 July 2018
See All Example Sentences for lacerate
Verb
His desperate, lacerating Teddy is a character who has ruined his own life, who has martyred himself out of his devotion to The Truth.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
But in Room 348, the bullet had entered Greg’s scrotum, tearing upward into his body, lacerating his organs and breaking bones before lodging deep in his chest.
—Christina Coulter, People.com, 19 July 2025
Adjective
The Georgia native suffered a lacerated liver in the Buffs’ win over CSU in the 2023 Rocky Mountain Showdown and missed three games, returning for a 46-43 home loss to Stanford.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2024
Reared in New York's indelicate political culture, Trump does not like to appear meek, using rallies and his Twitter account to lacerate rivals.
—Paul Schwartzman and Josh Dawsey, chicagotribune.com, 9 July 2018
See All Example Sentences for lacerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacerate
Verb
-
Take two mint crowns, lightly bruise them with your fingers, and stick them against the inside close to the straw.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
-
When digging, be careful not to cut through the tubers or bruise the spuds with rough handling.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Add 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch such as shredded leaves or bark over the root zone, being careful to leave 3 to 4 inches of space between the mulch and the trunk to prevent rot, pest infestation, and disease.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
-
This Friendsgiving Casserole calls for shredded cooked chicken.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
More than 130 people were killed in the attacks and scores more were wounded.—
Mark Morales,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Nidal Hasan committed a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Texas, killing 13 people and wounding more than 30.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
By the years of the Great Depression, the clown came to represent the faded glory of the circus and reflected the weariness felt by so many Americans in crisis.—
Time,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Scherzinger’s only familiarity with the material was Billy Wilder’s 1950 film, which starred Gloria Swanson as a faded beauty of the silent era hell-bent on a return to relevance.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Produced before the gag order was lifted, the four-part docuseries One Night in Idaho turns its focus to the families, friends and community members still wrestling with the aftermath, offering a piercing look at a case with many unanswered questions.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The grotesque details—the uncle’s fingernails piercing his hands, the dog’s permanent terror of rabbits—are simply there.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacerate. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share