lacerate

[ verb las-uh-reyt; adjective las-uh-reyt, -er-it ]

verb (used with object)

, lac·er·at·ed, lac·er·at·ing.

1. to tear roughly; mangle:

   The barbed wire lacerated his hands.

   Synonyms: rend

2. to distress or torture mentally or emotionally; wound deeply; pain greatly:

   His bitter criticism lacerated my heart.

adjective

1. lacerated.

lacerate

verb

1. to tear (the flesh, etc) jaggedly
2. to hurt or harrow (the feelings, etc)

adjective

1. having edges that are jagged or torn; lacerated

   lacerate leaves

Derived Forms

• ˈlacerable, adjective
• ˈlacerative, adjective
• ˌlaceraˈbility, noun
• ˌlacerˈation, noun

Other Words From

• lacer·a·ble adjective
• lac·er·a·bil·i·ty [las-er-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• lac·er·a·tive [las, -, uh, -rey-tiv, -er-, uh, -tiv], adjective
• self-lacer·ating adjective
• un·lacer·ating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lacerate¹

1535–45; from Latin lacerātus, past participle of lacerāre “to tear up” (derivative of lacer “mangled”); -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lacerate¹

C16: from Latin lacerāre to tear, from lacer mangled

Synonym Study

See maim.

Example Sentences

These included a fractured skull with associated bleeding to the brain and retinal bleeding; 27 rib fractures; fractures to both thigh bones; fractures to both shin bones; fractured wrist and a lacerated liver.

From BBC

Down the street, a mule lay panting on its side, its skin lacerated from shrapnel.

From Los Angeles Times

But none have the lacerating force of Buttigieg’s relentlessly unflappable delivery.

From Los Angeles Times

After a cooling-off period, the two bumped into each other again and found, to their surprise and delight, that they shared a love of verbal sparring via lacerating, relentless wit.

From Los Angeles Times

Stone lacerated his spleen Feb. 20 and didn’t return to full-contact practice until two days before the series opener.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• mangle