maim

1 of 2

verb

ˈmām 

maimed; maiming; maims

transitive verb

1

: to mutilate, disfigure or wound seriously

2

: to commit the felony of mayhem upon

maimer noun

maim

2 of 2

noun

1

obsolete : serious physical injury

especially : loss of a member of the body

2

obsolete : a serious loss

Synonyms

Verb

• cripple
• disable
• incapacitate
• lame
• mutilate

Choose the Right Synonym for maim

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 maim in a Sentence

Verb

The bomb killed 16 people and maimed several others.

on-the-job accidents maim far too many workers every year

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In fact, the Ukrainians may have killed or maimed around 300,000 Russians so far this year. —David Axe, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024

But these attacks killed and maimed scores of people who do not belong to the group. —Sarah E. Parkinson, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2024

Noun

Every year, thousands of incidents happen at sea and in port – dozens of which kill or maim sailors, longshoreman and bystanders. —USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024

Nothing here will surprise, let alone maim, anyone. —Vulture, 24 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English maymen, mahaymen, from Anglo-French maheimer, mahaigner — more at mayhem

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

maim

verb

ˈmām

: to injure or disfigure badly

Medical Definition

maim

transitive verb

ˈmām 

1

: to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously

2

: to commit the felony of mayhem upon

maimer noun

Legal Definition

maim

transitive verb

ˈmām 

: to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously compare mayhem