mutilate

verb

mu·​ti·​late ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt 

mutilated; mutilating; mutilates

transitive verb

1

: to cut up or alter radically so as to make imperfect

The child mutilated the book with his scissors.

a painting mutilated by vandals

2

: to cut off or cause severe damage to a limb or essential part of

His arm was mutilated in the accident.

mutilator

ˈmyü-tə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

plural mutilators

Synonyms

• cripple
• disable
• incapacitate
• lame
• maim

Choose the Right Synonym for mutilate

maim, mutilate, mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage.

maim implies the loss or injury of a body part.

maimed by a shark

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

mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds.

a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

Examples of mutilate in a Sentence

a painting mutilated by vandals

was lucky not to be mutilated in the car crash

Recent Examples on the Web

In the subsequent Israeli onslaught, more than forty-one thousand Palestinians have been killed, and about a hundred thousand more have been maimed and mutilated. —Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024

Militaries are required under international law to treat the bodies of enemy soldiers with respect, prevent them from being mutilated, and return them to the deceased’s family. —Kareem Khadder, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024

As Boyd looks on in horror, Randall—clearly mutilated—wakes up, coughing blood. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024

Children’s bodies were so mutilated their parents had trouble identifying them. —Brett Murphy, ProPublica, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin mutilatus, past participle of mutilare, from mutilus truncated, maimed

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

mutilate

verb

mu·​ti·​late ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt 

mutilated; mutilating

1

: to make imperfect by cutting or altering severely : ruin

mutilate a play

2

: to cut off or destroy a necessary part (as a limb) : maim

mutilation

ˌmyüt-ᵊl-ˈā-shən 

noun

mutilator

ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

mutilate

transitive verb

mu·​ti·​late ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt 

mutilated; mutilating

: to cut off or cause severe damage to a limb or essential part of

mutilate a body

also : castrate sense 1