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

And, a year ago, a 71-year-old woman was mauled to death by four dogs in Miami Gardens. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026 Also in June, a woman was mauled by a shark at one of Australia's most popular beaches in Sydney. — CBS News, 18 Sep. 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 charges come with additional special allegations, around the victim’s vulnerability and that Tapia abused a trustworthy position.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Early American corporate charters, after all, were granted for limited public purposes and could be revoked when abused.

— Christopher Marquis, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

Popo would lick her cone ever so gracefully, never dripping or messing up the lining of her magenta lipstick.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Teams have to be licking their chops after seeing what Tampa Bay did to Dallas last Thursday night, especially considering the defense (or lack thereof) that the Cowboys have shown through five weeks.

— Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of lick

Noun

And less than 24 hours later, the NFL dropped the proverbial hammer on Greenlaw.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
With the run as a hammer and Baugh with 600 rushing yards in four games, Faulkner’s attack was at times unstoppable through September.

— Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of hammer

Verb

Extreme tropical weather led to two deaths in Mexico and caused widespread damage over the weekend as Hurricane Simon pounded the country's Pacific coast, authorities said Monday.

— JAIMIE DING, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Rain pounded Las Vegas, which broke a daily rainfall record Sunday.

— Adrian Florido, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of pound

Noun

Its leader, Sergei Mironov, 73, once gained headlines by posing with a symbol of brutality — a sledgehammer given to him by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the late Wagner mercenary leader shortly before his failed 2023 mutiny.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Whatever is decided in November, Sterling has taken a sledgehammer to his own reputation.

— Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of sledgehammer

Verb

Most of the students were accused of minor offenses, like making threats, using cannabis vapes or lashing out at classmates or teachers, the analysis found.

— Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026
More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.

— Rosie Cima, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lash

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 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of maul

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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