1
as in abused
to abuse physically
demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in licked
to strike repeatedly
the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mauled
The second fatality occurred in 2001, when 9-year-old Clinton Gage was mauled on K’gari, then called Fraser Island, by two dingoes who also attacked his younger brother.
—
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
In September, a great white shark mauled surfer Mercury Psillakis to death at a popular northern Sydney ocean beach.
—CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
The New England defense is terrific, given how the Patriots mauled the Texans while limiting them to 241 yards.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
In September, a 71-year-old woman was mauled to death by dogs in Miami Gardens, and a dog killed a 5-month-old infant near Daytona Beach in July.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
The botanical zoo, which is home to hundreds of animal species, confirmed Machado, 19, was mauled to death in a news release shared on Instagram.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
Leona, the lioness who mauled the teen, is under evaluation.
—Kate Reilly, NBC news, 1 Dec. 2025
In his experience, a person mauled by a grizzly was usually bitten and battered but then left to die and ripen before being eaten; a black bear would kill outright and feed immediately.
—William D. Brown, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2025
What To Know On October 27, a 79-year-old woman was found dead near her home in northeastern Japan’s Akita Prefecture, on the island of Honshu, with facial injuries suggesting she had been mauled by a bear, according to local reports.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
In September, a great white shark mauled surfer Mercury Psillakis to death at a popular northern Sydney ocean beach.
—CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
The New England defense is terrific, given how the Patriots mauled the Texans while limiting them to 241 yards.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
In September, a 71-year-old woman was mauled to death by dogs in Miami Gardens, and a dog killed a 5-month-old infant near Daytona Beach in July.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
The botanical zoo, which is home to hundreds of animal species, confirmed Machado, 19, was mauled to death in a news release shared on Instagram.
—Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
Leona, the lioness who mauled the teen, is under evaluation.
—Kate Reilly, NBC news, 1 Dec. 2025
In his experience, a person mauled by a grizzly was usually bitten and battered but then left to die and ripen before being eaten; a black bear would kill outright and feed immediately.
—William D. Brown, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2025
What To Know On October 27, a 79-year-old woman was found dead near her home in northeastern Japan’s Akita Prefecture, on the island of Honshu, with facial injuries suggesting she had been mauled by a bear, according to local reports.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mauled
Verb
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The department has said the release of the files was delayed by redactions required to protect the identities of those who were abused.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
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Tobin became an early advocate for establishing regulatory thresholds to distinguish intentional administration from environmental exposure to drugs commonly abused by humans.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Just hours before Saturday morning’s Shabbat service, flames and smoke licked through the synagogue, destroying at least two Torahs and many prayer books.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
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When asked by director Marina Zenovich if there was a time when Chase walked away from his mother and stepfather and never saw them again, Chase pretended to swat a fly on his forehead, then licked his fingers as if eating the imaginary bug.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One study in 2020 surveyed 261 herders in Mongolia, another common habitat for snow leopards; while many reported having seen snow leopards, or had their livestock attacked by snow leopards, none reported any attacks on humans.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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The upstream piranhas attacked her, and her blood flowing downstream attracted the rest of the piranhas, leaving the creek clear for the herd to cross.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Celtics pounded the paint with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, a pair of bruising bigs who also can force the issue from 3-point range despite their lumbering dispositions.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
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Trump seems to have arrived, on his own, at the same understanding of geography and politics that was pounded into the heads of Soviet schoolchildren, including Putin and me.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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From the first-quarter red-zone stand to the fourth-quarter strip sack that left Justin Herbert twisted, bloodied and dazed, the Patriots defense manhandled the Los Angeles Chargers in the teams’ wild-card playoff matchup.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Before his team manhandled Miami, Vrabel gave voice to this during a pregame radio interview when answering if the Patriots might rest starters in order to preserve their health for the playoffs.—
Andrew Callahan,
Hartford Courant,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This is far from the first time the White House has lashed out at the cohosts of The View.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
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Trump has lashed out at five GOP senators who joined with Democrats to advance the resolution last week, raising doubts that the measure will ultimately pass.—
Stephen Groves,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While refusing to fight for the Confederacy and trying to reach safety in Mexico, the group was ambushed by Confederate soldiers on horseback in the 1862 Battle of the Nueces, also called the Nueces massacre.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
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The Colorado Avalanche ambushed the Ottawa Senators’ goaltenders so badly Thursday night, the visitors signed a new one in the middle of the game.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trump has said previously that the Cuban economy, battered by years of an American embargo, would slide further with the ouster of Maduro.—
Seung Min Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
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The arts scene in South Florida has been battered by funding cuts at the federal and state levels over the last few years.—
Daniel Rivero,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mauled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mauled. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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