Synonyms of mutilate

mutilate

verb

ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt 

as in to cripple

to cause severe or permanent injury to

was lucky not to be mutilated in the car crash

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cripple
• incapacitate
• injure
• maim
• wound
• disable
• kill
• scar
• damage
• hurt
• bruise
• lame
• dismember
• paralyze
• disfigure
• hit
• mangle
• lacerate
• beat
• maul
• impair
• rough (up)
• wing
• lick
• hobble
• harm
• hamstring
• murder
• pummel
• smash
• torture
• bludgeon
• batter
• gore
• slap
• punch
• spank
• whack
• box
• smack
• hammer
• whip
• paste
• flog
• pelt
• pound
• thrash
• bash
• belt
• torment
• bang
• thump
• lambaste
• lash
• swipe
• swat
• break
• bung up
• sock
• buffet
• lace
• drub
• kneecap
• wallop
• pommel
• thwack

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heal
• cure
• rehabilitate
• remedy
• fix
• patch
• restore
• repair
• renew
• mend
• doctor
• rejuvenate

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb mutilate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mutilate are batter, cripple, maim, and mangle. While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function.

a tree mutilated by inept pruning

Where would batter be a reasonable alternative to mutilate?

Although the words batter and mutilate have much in common, batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate.

an old ship battered by fierce storms

When is cripple a more appropriate choice than mutilate?

The words cripple and mutilate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg.

crippled for life in an accident

When can maim be used instead of mutilate?

The meanings of maim and mutilate largely overlap; however, maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence.

maimed by a shark

When could mangle be used to replace mutilate?

While in some cases nearly identical to mutilate, mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds.

a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mutilate

D4vd pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a person under 14 and mutilating a body in connection with Rivas Hernandez’s death. —Jessica Schaldebeck, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026

Prosecutors allege Burke mutilated her body about two weeks later. —Andrew Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

According to the complaint filed Monday, Burke killed Celeste on April 23, 2025, then mutilated her corpse about two weeks later in early May. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026

But their day on the water took a sinister turn when one of his clients hooked and landed a fish that had clearly been mutilated by someone. —Kubie Brown, Outdoor Life, 16 Apr. 2026