mutilate

[ myoot-l-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, mu·ti·lat·ed, mu·ti·lat·ing.

1. to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts:

   Vandals mutilated the painting.

   Synonyms: cripple, mar, damage

2. to deprive (a person or animal) of a limb or other essential part.

mutilate

/ ˈmjuːtɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. to deprive of a limb, essential part, etc; maim; dismember
2. to mar, expurgate, or damage (a text, book, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˌmutiˈlation, noun
• ˈmutiˌlative, adjective
• ˈmutiˌlator, noun

Other Words From

• muti·lation noun
• muti·lative mu·ti·la·to·ry [myoot, -l-, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• muti·lator noun
• self-muti·lating adjective
• self-muti·lation noun
• un·muti·lated adjective
• un·muti·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutilate¹

1525–35; from Latin mutilātus (past participle of mutilāre “to cut off, maim”), equivalent to mutil(us) “maimed, mutilated” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutilate¹

C16: from Latin mutilāre to cut off; related to mutilus maimed

Synonym Study

See maim.

Related Words

• amputate
• butcher
• damage
• deface
• disfigure
• dismember
• distort
• hack
• injure
• maim
• mangle
• ravage