lacerate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to tear roughly; mangle.
The barbed wire lacerated his hands.
- Synonyms:
- rend
-
to distress or torture mentally or emotionally; wound deeply; pain greatly.
His bitter criticism lacerated my heart.
adjective
verb
-
to tear (the flesh, etc) jaggedly
-
to hurt or harrow (the feelings, etc)
adjective
Related Words
See maim.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lacerate
1535–45; from Latin lacerātus, past participle of lacerāre “to tear up” (derivative of lacer “mangled”); see -ate 1
Explanation
The verb lacerate means to cut or tear. So the envelope that gave you that nasty paper cut? It lacerated your finger. Something usually needs to be sharp or jagged to lacerate you, like broken glass or a sharp stick. You won't be getting lacerated anytime soon by lace or cotton balls, that's for sure. But watch out for sharp-tongued people hurling hateful words your way; those snide remarks and personal digs can lacerate feelings like a knife slicing through butter.
Vocabulary lists containing lacerate
"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Banana Tree," Vocabulary from the short story
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
David Bowie (1947-2016) Tribute List
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While large shards of plastic can lacerate organ walls, the smaller particles, known as microplastics, can be just as deleterious.
From Salon • Mar. 8, 2023
New verbs entered the surf lexicon: shred, tear, lacerate.
From The New Yorker • Aug. 26, 2019
It’s a story that will lacerate your heart.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 9, 2019
Despite the carping of her critics, Clinton does in fact lacerate herself for losing.
From Slate • Sep. 14, 2017
Tiny answered with a gentle smile; and Fin, who had been setting up all the thorns about her, ready to tear and lacerate this intruder, now looked quite humid of eye, and shook hands warmly.
From Thereby Hangs a Tale Volume One by Fenn, George Manville
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
