mutilation

noun

mu·​ti·​la·​tion ˌmyü-tə-ˈlā-shən 

plural mutilations

1

: an act or instance of destroying, removing, or severely damaging a limb or other body part of a person or animal

the mutilation of a body

They were men who had been sexually damaged by disease, accident, or deliberate mutilation.

—James J. O'Donnell

His book contains very many gruesome accounts of murder and mutilation, and page after page describing torture in almost salacious detail.

—Geoffrey Wheatcroft

see also female genital mutilation

2

: an act or instance of damaging or altering something radically

Evidence suggests that the mutilation of the sculptures was deliberate.

Thus an author has the right of paternity (authorship) and integrity (the right to object to derogatory actions, distortion, mutilation or other modifications in relation to his or her work that would be prejudicial to the artist's honor or reputation).

—Judith Nierman

Critics described the proposed structure as a "vast pile of masonry" that they feared would never be removed and would become a "permanent mutilation of Hyde Park."

—Henry Petroski

Examples of mutilation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anderson, 33, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse and arson of property other than a building in the slaying of Sade Robinson, 19. —Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2024

The most unnerving sequence, however, doesn’t involve the grotesque use of deforming prosthetics or digital mutilation. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2024

But for David Howard Thornton, who plays the films' big bad, Art the Clown, the release of Terrifier 3 marks a happy occasion to add a chilling new method of mutilation to the list — freezing. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Oct. 2024

Even body horror buffs will shiver at the scenes of mutilation and murder in the woods. —Emy Lacroix, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1517, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mutilation

• female genital mutilation
• self-mutilation

Medical Definition

mutilation

noun

mu·​ti·​la·​tion ˌmyüt-ᵊl-ˈā-shən 

1

: deprivation of a limb or essential part especially by excision

the mutilation of a body

2

: an instance of mutilating