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.

Example Sentences

Back in July, videos appeared on social media showing suspected soldiers and volunteers mutilating dead bodies, which Burkina Faso's army publicly condemned.

From BBC

Although her remains had been mutilated by fire, he recognised a distinctive bracelet.

From BBC

With its networks disrupted, its fighting men mutilated, its leadership assassinated and its military infrastructure under constant bombardment, Hezbollah is facing its worst crisis in four decades.

From BBC

It comes on the heels of Tuesday’s bombings, which saw thousands of handheld pagers detonate, killing 12 people and leaving thousands of others with bloodied and mutilated hands, eyes and torsos.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Khalusha was arrested following the horrific discovery of the mutilated bodies of nine women last month at a disused quarry used as a rubbish dump in Nairobi.

From BBC

Related Words

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