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
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"The Banana Tree," Vocabulary from the short story
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David Bowie (1947-2016) Tribute List
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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
When Brady doesn’t face quick pressure, he is typically able to lacerate opposing defenses with short passes.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2019
Despite the carping of her critics, Clinton does in fact lacerate herself for losing.
From Slate • Sep. 14, 2017
Commercial radio did not arrive until 1920, and 1916 phonographs would lacerate 2017 sensibilities, as would 1916’s silent movies.
From Washington Post • May 5, 2017
But she would rather lacerate her already wounded heart by the painful delight of an interview, than shut out of her life this one passionate memory under the cold seal of an envelope.
From The Way of the Strong by Cullum, Ridgwell
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.
