MAUL Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

maul 1 of 2

verb

Definition of maul

as in to abuse

to abuse physically demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

maul

2 of 2

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 maul

Verb

When his grandfather was mauled by a leopard caught in a trap set for an impala, however, Mgesi began to feel that the dangers of hunting wildlife outweighed its benefits for humans. — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026 The native dogs are known to have killed baby Azaria Chamberlain, who was taken in the outback in 1980, and mauled Canadian tourist Piper James, who died on K’Gari off the coast of Queensland earlier this year. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Noun

Down four points with 70 seconds to play, and facing fourth-and-1 on Jacksonville’s 11-yard line, Buffalo called for a Josh Allen quarterback sneak, the claw-and-maul play commonly known as the tush push. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for maul

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maul

Verb

Lawyers are officers of the court, bound by ethical obligations to pursue claims in good faith and not abuse the legal process for improper purposes.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026
Security experts have long warned that AI voice and face cloning could be easily abused to enhance impersonation scams.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

Unfortunately for us, those tenants have evolved a sticky knack for evading eviction, creating a webbing known as biofilm that prevents them from being easily licked or swallowed away.

— Mike McRae, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2026
That’s not exactly chump change, considering Atlanta was still licking its wounds after the Great Depression.

— Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of lick

Noun

The homeowner gave investigators security camera video that showed an unidentified man using a hammer to smash the sliding glass door and enter the home, before leaving moments later as flames became visible.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Peters has acknowledged using hard drugs and smashing the bones of his face with a hammer to maximize his looks.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of hammer

Verb

Hawley said the majority of conflicts between humans and coyotes occurs when a pet owner tries to save their pet from an attacking coyote.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026
Running as the populist candidate, Brown has repeatedly attacked Husted as the face of data centers in the state and pushed to take on Silicon Valley if elected to office again.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

Using the textured side of a meat mallet, gently pound the meat until it’s slightly flattened, creating indentations all over the surface.

— Natalia Vela, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026
Rain pounded the region on Sunday, and one of the pilots reported icing conditions at a high altitude in communications with air traffic control.

— David Fischer, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of pound

Noun

He was arrested last week after allegedly using a sledgehammer to damage the World War II monument near Marine Corps Base Quantico.

— Sophia Compton , Jake Gibson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
The Europol report, meanwhile, revealed that these heists are increasingly using tools such as sledgehammers, axes, crowbars –– and even explosives.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of sledgehammer

Verb

An Osceola County deputy sheriff was arrested this week, accused of manhandling a 67-year-old woman and falsely charging her with battering him during an early-morning traffic stop, the Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

— Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
He got stuffed by double-team blocks and turned away by larger Toronto wings, who manhandled the slighter forward in his attempts to create downhill momentum.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of manhandle

Browse Nearby Words

maudlin

maul

mauled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Maul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maul. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of maul

verb

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wabi-sabi

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes