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

The singer, 37, was set to take the stand in the case brought against him by his housekeeper, who alleged one of Brown's dogs mauled her sister in 2020. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Chris Brown was seated at the defense table in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday, poised to testify at his dog-mauling trial, when the judge declared a mistrial due to juror misconduct. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 16 June 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