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.
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variants
or lacerated
as in shredded
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lacerate
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
Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 10 Mar. 2025
Bong Joon Ho Comments South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite, a lacerating thriller about a family of grifters who overplay their hand, is arguably the greatest film of the past decade.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lacerate
Verb
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
Adjective
On the Better Business Bureau’s website, 939 customer reviews give the company an average 1.28 rating out of 5, offering lacerating complaints about dirty and broken equipment, delivery delays, nightmarish customer service, improper billings, and harassing sales and collection calls.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 10 Mar. 2025
Bong Joon Ho Comments South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar-winning Parasite, a lacerating thriller about a family of grifters who overplay their hand, is arguably the greatest film of the past decade.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lacerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lacerate
Adjective
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The eatery serves Southern-style barbecue, including shredded pork, beef brisket, and legendary ribs.—
Tykesha Spivey Burton,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
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Offerings include a pita sandwich with shredded chicken or vegan chicken.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Justice Department in its June 2024 report on problems with policing in Phoenix found that police delayed medical assistance to people who appeared to be incapacitated as a result of the use of force by officers and used unreasonable force on people who had already been wounded by officers.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Two Chicagoans were fatally wounded in separate shootings Sunday evening, according to police.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The 9th-century monastery rises from the plateau—its stone walls etched with faded medieval frescoes of apostles and Last Judgement scenes.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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Its faded design lends it a vintage look — without the wear.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The fatal knife wound pierced Martin's sternum before going into his heart.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Sep. 2025
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Hospitals overflowing with patients ripped by shrapnel and pierced by bullets.—
Brendan Rascius,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lacerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lacerate. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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