Synonyms of maul

maul 1 of 2

verb

1

as in to abuse

to abuse physically

demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abuse
• attack
• manhandle
• ambush
• maltreat
• injure
• rough (up)
• beat
• mishandle
• torture
• hurt
• wrestle
• wound
• pummel
• slap
• mistreat
• lick
• fight
• persecute
• knock
• batter
• thrash
• harm
• hit
• misuse
• pound
• wrong
• bash
• oppress
• clobber
• ill-treat
• assail
• jump
• drub
• buffet
• roughhouse
• ill-use
• lambaste
• torment
• pommel
• gang up (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pet
• caress
• fondle
• pamper
• coddle
• foster
• care (for)
• nurture
• mollycoddle

2

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly

the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lick
• pound
• lash
• hide
• whip
• pelt
• attack
• beat
• knock
• hit
• assault
• spank
• smash
• thump
• slap
• punch
• do
• bat
• pummel
• batter
• slam
• bludgeon
• chop
• hammer
• thrash
• bash
• punch out
• raid
• drub
• paddle
• smack
• slate
• tan
• flog
• club
• belt
• whup
• pommel
• work over
• wallop
• rough (up)
• curry
• thresh
• whack
• whale
• box
• birch
• switch
• buffet
• wound
• lather
• lambaste
• swipe
• storm
• beat up on
• whop
• tromp
• fib
• baste
• slog
• belabor
• bung up
• mess (up)
• swat
• lace
• clobber
• crack
• rush
• cudgel
• assail
• strap
• descend (on or upon)
• cane
• thwack
• lay on
• leather
• jump (on)
• lacerate
• clout
• beset
• paste
• maim
• cuff
• wham
• pounce (on or upon)
• sock
• mutilate
• scourge
• lam
• whomp
• bust
• horsewhip
• mangle
• flagellate
• rawhide
• gore
• blackjack
• pistol-whip
• cowhide
• fustigate

maul

2 of 2

noun

as in hammer

Related Words

• hammer
• sledgehammer
• mallet
• bludgeon
• beetle
• cane
• cudgel
• gavel
• nightstick
• baton
• truncheon
• bat
• billy
• rod
• mace
• billy club
• staff
• waddy
• bastinado
• shillelagh
• hickory
• birch
• knobkerrie
• club
• sap
• rattan
• rung
• blackjack
• stave
• switch
• walking stick
• crosier
• crook
• crabstick
• whangee

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of maul

Verb

While the left guard competition remains open, Jones has been on the first string for over a week since replacing Connor Colby, and Jones stood out with an aggressive, mauling nature against the Titans. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Few fishing experiences rival the rush of easing close to hundreds of seabirds swooping and diving on baitfish being herded and mauled by a school of slashing striped bass. — Ken Perrotte, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Noun

The half ended with the Free Jacks once again putting the Sabercats under pressure, trying to force their way over the tryline through a rolling maul, and twice failing to score. — Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Minutes later, Hanover scored back-to-back tries with near identical mauls down the sideline. — Marcello Rossetti, Boston Herald, 14 June 2025