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

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

Creator Meredith Scardino freely borrows executive producer Tina Fey’s breakneck comic pacing and lacerating feminist critiques, especially when it comes to the damage wrought on women in the spotlight.

From Washington Post

He broke his leg as a sophomore, lacerated a kidney as a junior, turned pro anyway — and had to wait to celebrate.

From Washington Post

“Rails” and “lacerate,” two other words swiftly elected for pillory, were classic Tejpal, overblown, mannered, theatrical.

From The Daily Beast

Women shall not lacerate their faces, nor indulge in immoderate wailing for the dead.

From Project Gutenberg

These spurs do not lacerate the horse, as their points are blunt.

From Project Gutenberg

Zoe trotted away with her head up, carrying the kitten very carefully lest her teeth should lacerate its tender skin.

From Project Gutenberg

She was like a wounded animal that longs to strike, to tear with its claws, to lacerate and leave bleeding.

From Project Gutenberg

Human souls were never made to do penance, to lacerate and torment themselves in worship or duty.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mangle