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

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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

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 See All Example Sentences for maul

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maul

Verb

The scandal led to Paterno’s firing, and the university paid more than $100 million to people who said they were abused by Sandusky.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Some critics report being verbally abused, doxxed, and even threatened with rape and death by BJP supporters.

— Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

There was the physician who analyzed the growth rate of his fingernails for 35 years and the geologist who looked into why his colleagues lick rocks.

— Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
An ancient Nazi scientist (Dan Stevens) crawling across a carpet to lick a woman’s stilettoed foot.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of lick

Noun

Among the pieces were a small Thor’s hammer, bracelets, many silver bars, cut-up objects and 47 coins, some whole and some fragmented, the museums group said in a statement.

— Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
While wielding a hammer, DeFoor reportedly breached the property line at the driveway and proceeded to target an unmarked federal law enforcement vehicle blocking the driveway entrance.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of hammer

Verb

Tzolis plays the pass and, because the Arsenal players are attacking the diagonal, there are a number of receivers available.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In perhaps the coolest reversal in the show thus far, the Lanterns are attacked with guns that produce darkness, which manifests here as smoke but prevents them from seeing or creating light constructs.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

Zeller sets this up ably by incorporating the sledgehammer blows of the builder hired by Toby into percussive passages of Volker Bertelmann’s ominous score.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
However, according to the report, violence is increasing in museum thefts, with thieves using instruments such as dynamite, guns, and sledgehammers to gain access to treasures and deter employees from interfering.

— News Desk, Artforum, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of sledgehammer

Verb

After getting physically manhandled far too often last year, Colorado was the more physical team against a Yellow Jackets program that prides itself on toughness.

— Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The Los Angeles Police Department released a video that shows officers at the Valley jail manhandle an uncooperative inmate who died after he was left handcuffed with a bag over his head while laying prone on the bunk in his cell.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of manhandle

Verb

Alpha 1, who’s most strict about the disease’s suppression, lashes out uncontrollably.

— Cortlyn Kelly, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026
The Philippines is among the countries most exposed to powerful typhoons, some 20 of which lash the archipelago every year, causing considerable damage and casualties due to floods and landslides.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of lash

Browse Nearby Words

maudlin

maul

mauled

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Cite this Entry

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“Maul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maul. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of maul

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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