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
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 1 Feb. 2026
Jacqueline Durand was 22 and a student at the University of Texas at Dallas when the mauling occurred in December 2021.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
The defensive fragility of those weaker sides was laid bare in Liverpool’s 6-0 mauling of Azerbaijani visitors Qarabag on Wednesday.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 30 Jan. 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
Continue reading … SNAP ATTACK – Skier suffers brutal mauling after stepping within 10 feet of snow leopard for photo.
—FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
There isn’t a Joe Alt or Penei Sewell in this draft class, but Mauigoa, a former five-star recruit, is big (6-6, 315), powerful, athletic and plays with a mauling mentality at the tackle position.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
The tragedy of the mauling death of Michael Millett III in a community with an alleged history of incidents involving dangerous dogs should serve as a reminder for anyone who witnesses or experiences a dog behaving aggressively to file a complaint with local animal control.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
When our conversation turned to bears, Sam explained that a person was more likely to survive a grizzly mauling than a black bear attack.
—William D. Brown, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2025
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
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
Jacqueline Durand was 22 and a student at the University of Texas at Dallas when the mauling occurred in December 2021.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
The defensive fragility of those weaker sides was laid bare in Liverpool’s 6-0 mauling of Azerbaijani visitors Qarabag on Wednesday.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 30 Jan. 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
Continue reading … SNAP ATTACK – Skier suffers brutal mauling after stepping within 10 feet of snow leopard for photo.
—FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
There isn’t a Joe Alt or Penei Sewell in this draft class, but Mauigoa, a former five-star recruit, is big (6-6, 315), powerful, athletic and plays with a mauling mentality at the tackle position.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
The tragedy of the mauling death of Michael Millett III in a community with an alleged history of incidents involving dangerous dogs should serve as a reminder for anyone who witnesses or experiences a dog behaving aggressively to file a complaint with local animal control.
—Nicole R. Kurtz, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
When our conversation turned to bears, Sam explained that a person was more likely to survive a grizzly mauling than a black bear attack.
—William D. Brown, Outdoor Life, 13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
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And, the 56-22 CFP semifinal Peach Bowl thrashing of Oregon began with Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Last season’s 56-7 thrashing of former college football power Nebraska.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Labor Department inspector general's office has interviewed staff in connection with the investigation, which followed a complaint that Chavez-DeRemer was having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate and abusing her office.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Benny isn’t abusing his daughter.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mitch West, meanwhile, was licking his wounds on Monday night, when snow still hadn’t touched down in his region of South Carolina.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
-
England’s Test team are still licking their wounds after their humbling Down Under.—
Sam Dalling,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His June assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities had two carrier groups in the region, more there as a counter-weight to any Iranian reprisals than to be directly involved in the attack.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Senegal -- The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility on Friday for an attack on an air force base in Niger's capital that wounded four soldiers and damaged an aircraft.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The president also shared clips of the video on his Truth Social handle, along with posts mocking and attacking Pretti.—
Siladitya Ray,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Stay focused on the issue, rather than attacking the other person’s character.—
Molly Burrets,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Rain pounding against windows and ocean waves crashing into the foundations of shoreline homes with wind gusts of over 60 mph — what may sound like a stormy September day in Florida took place in Milford during Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020.—
Maleena Muzio,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
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Russia has been pounding Ukraine's critical infrastructure, hoping to wear down public resistance to the war while leaving many around the country having to endure the dead of winter without heat.—
AAMER MADHANI AND SUSIE BLANN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Martinez and another man were charged in October with assault with a deadly weapon, accused of following the agents' vehicles and initiating the collision with Exum's SUV that led to the shooting on Chicago's south side.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Pretti was shot while agents were evidently seeking to detain a man, Jose Huerta-Chuma, whom Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino said had an extensive criminal record including domestic assault.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s exactly how the Miami Dolphins performed in Sunday’s 30-13 win against the Buffalo Bills in a contest Miami controlled all game, manhandling the reigning AFC East division champions to prove that the 2025 season isn’t over.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
9 Nov. 2025
-
But even with Mizzou being able to do what it’s been doing — manhandling the trenches and milking the clock — the results were somewhat spoiled.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mauling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mauling. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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