as in thrashing
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1
as in abusing
to abuse physically
demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police
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2
as in licking
to strike repeatedly
the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up
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Recent Examples of mauling
Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
Fox orchestrated the mauling of Minnesota, dancing around defenders and into the lane at will.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Those still with the team may want to exact revenge after last December’s 45-21 mauling at the hands of quarterback Joe Burrow.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
The area remains closed as authorities continue to investigate the apparent mauling.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Seth Michael Plant, 30, died after a bear mauling that occurred during training, according to a Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson news release.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
These were claps of relief and encouragement from a European audience bracing for a mauling like JD Vance’s onslaught last year.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Fresh from his online mauling at the hands of Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary, the world’s richest man can take some consolation.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 1 Feb. 2026
Both tragedies unfolded in rural Northern California, with the fatal lion mauling occurring in El Dorado County.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Throw in the signing of dual threat quarterback Malik Willis with the drafting of mauling offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor as well as Will Kacmarek, arguably the best blocking tight end of the 2026 class, and all signs point to the Dolphins having an elite rushing attack for quite some time.
—Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Or left tackle Theo Benedet pulling into the open field in Cincinnati, sprinting well beyond the line of scrimmage, starting his block on Geno Stone 4 yards from the sideline, then mauling the Bengals safety within inches of a bench.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
City enters Week 2 of the new campaign as Premier League leader after mauling its way to a 4-0 win over Wolves on opening weekend.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
The dogs involved in the mauling were later euthanized.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026
Fox orchestrated the mauling of Minnesota, dancing around defenders and into the lane at will.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Those still with the team may want to exact revenge after last December’s 45-21 mauling at the hands of quarterback Joe Burrow.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026
The area remains closed as authorities continue to investigate the apparent mauling.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Seth Michael Plant, 30, died after a bear mauling that occurred during training, according to a Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson news release.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
These were claps of relief and encouragement from a European audience bracing for a mauling like JD Vance’s onslaught last year.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
Fresh from his online mauling at the hands of Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary, the world’s richest man can take some consolation.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 1 Feb. 2026
Both tragedies unfolded in rural Northern California, with the fatal lion mauling occurring in El Dorado County.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Another hiker survived a grizzly mauling on the popular Grinnell Glacier Trail just weeks later.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026
Throw in the signing of dual threat quarterback Malik Willis with the drafting of mauling offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor as well as Will Kacmarek, arguably the best blocking tight end of the 2026 class, and all signs point to the Dolphins having an elite rushing attack for quite some time.
—Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Or left tackle Theo Benedet pulling into the open field in Cincinnati, sprinting well beyond the line of scrimmage, starting his block on Geno Stone 4 yards from the sideline, then mauling the Bengals safety within inches of a bench.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
City enters Week 2 of the new campaign as Premier League leader after mauling its way to a 4-0 win over Wolves on opening weekend.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mauling
Noun
-
Thursday’s 118-91 thrashing, though, invited more than a Game 7.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
The Fever, perhaps more terribly potent with each passing day, is a two-hour spiral into the thrashing, slowly awakening soul of a Good Middle-Class Liberal.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
According to Variety and Puck, the film was originally set to dramatize Jackson being accused of abusing 13‑year‑old Jordan Chandler in 1993.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
-
The lawsuit, filed in December, claims that the Litchfield Middle School failed to act on a complaint from the 1980s that Driscoll was allegedly abusing students before Fitterer and Bird were middle school students in the 1990s.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Rahm is a more tame thrill ride who should be licking his chops at a venue like this, but could succumb to the conditions and never recover.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
-
Monitor pets for behavioral changes, as pets may experience pain, licking or chewing at a wound, loss of appetite and lethargy.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The families allege that the attacker used ChatGPT to plan the attack, and that the company did not do anything to stop it.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
13 June 2026
-
And, in any case, many legal experts say the boat attacks amount to extrajudicial killings in violation of international law.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Verb
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After the good Samaritan got him off the woman, witnesses say the man wandered to produce and began attacking a 16-year-old boy, but Garbe had followed him.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
After coming close on numerous attacking opportunities in the first, the Real Madrid star put England ahead for the good in the opening moments of the second.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Joseph, Nomkhitha and the children stood silently around the dining-room table, trying to calm their pounding hearts; the littlest ones shivered from the cold and fear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 June 2026
-
Eight miles down the road, Ragsdale’s friend and Alva’s former ESL teacher Lisa Weinstein woke up to pounding at her door.—
Karen Valby,
Vanity Fair,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Brianna and Kierianna Long now face several charges in connection with the May 30 incident, including assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to local reports.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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He was also convicted of assault and abuse in close relationships.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
But this year’s edition could be the best one yet, and the Wolverines will get a chance to prove that next week in Indianapolis after manhandling Tennessee 95-62 yesterday at the United Center to clinch a spot in the Final Four.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Illini literally soaked in the celebration Thursday night after manhandling hometown favorite Houston to advance to the Elite 8 for the second time in three years.—
Ryan Baker,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mauling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mauling. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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