mutilate

[myoot-l-eyt]

verb (used with object)

mutilated, mutilating 

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)

Other Word Forms

• mutilation noun
• mutilative adjective
• mutilatory adjective
• mutilator noun
• self-mutilating adjective
• self-mutilation noun
• unmutilated adjective
• unmutilative 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

Ms Fasold says she imagined her father's body would be handled with respect - but instead it was "mutilated", she believes.

From BBC

Dashi's father was "murdered – shot and mutilated" in the family's pharmacy in Somalia.

From BBC

Santa Cruz County authorities discovered an apparent cockfighting pit with approximately 200 mutilated roosters.

From Los Angeles Times

Along with the girl, who also cannot be named because of her age, the teenager had previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals by mutilating and killing them.

From BBC

New members are encouraged to mutilate and post videos to gain access to a wider network.

From BBC

Related Words

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