lacerate

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

See synonyms for: lacerate lacerated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),lac·er·at·ed, lac·er·at·ing.

to tear roughly; mangle: The barbed wire lacerated his hands.
to distress or torture mentally or emotionally; wound deeply; pain greatly: His bitter criticism lacerated my heart.

adjective

lacerated.

Origin of lacerate

1535–45; from Latin lacerātus, past participle of lacerāre “to tear up” (derivative of lacer “mangled”); see -ate¹

synonym study For lacerate

1. See maim.

Other words for lacerate

rend

See synonyms for lacerate on Thesaurus.com

Other words from lacerate

lac·er·a·ble, adjective
lac·er·a·bil·i·ty [las-er-uh-bil-i-tee], /ˌlæs ər əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, noun
lac·er·a·tive [las-uh-rey-tiv, -er-uh-tiv], /ˈlæs əˌreɪ tɪv, -ər ə tɪv/, adjective
self-lac·er·at·ing, adjective
un·lac·er·at·ing, adjective

Words Nearby lacerate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lacerate in a sentence

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.
The 10 best TV shows from the first half of 2021 | Inkoo Kang | July 1, 2021 | Washington Post
He broke his leg as a sophomore, lacerated a kidney as a junior, turned pro anyway — and had to wait to celebrate.
Stefon Diggs wanted a new start. The Bills needed a spark. Now the NFL is on notice. | Barry Svrluga | January 22, 2021 | Washington Post
“Rails” and “lacerate,” two other words swiftly elected for pillory, were classic Tejpal, overblown, mannered, theatrical.
The Fall of India’s Conscience | Tunku Varadarajan | November 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Women shall not lacerate their faces, nor indulge in immoderate wailing for the dead.
The Two Great Republics: Rome and the United States | James Hamilton Lewis
These spurs do not lacerate the horse, as their points are blunt.
Mexico | Charles Reginald Enock

Zoe trotted away with her head up, carrying the kitten very carefully lest her teeth should lacerate its tender skin.
Lives of the Fur Folk | M. D. Haviland
She was like a wounded animal that longs to strike, to tear with its claws, to lacerate and leave bleeding.
December Love | Robert Hichens
Human souls were never made to do penance, to lacerate and torment themselves in worship or duty.
Aims and Aids for Girls and Young Women | George Sumner Weaver

British Dictionary definitions for lacerate

lacerate

verb(ˈlæsəˌreɪt) (tr)

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

adjective(ˈlæsəˌreɪt, -rɪt)

having edges that are jagged or torn; lacerated: lacerate leaves

Origin of lacerate

C16: from Latin lacerāre to tear, from lacer mangled

Derived forms of lacerate

lacerable, adjective
lacerability, noun
laceration, noun
lacerative, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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