mangle

[ mang-guhl ]

/ ˈmæŋ gəl /

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See synonyms for: mangle / mangled on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), man·gled, man·gling.

to injure severely, disfigure, or mutilate by cutting, slashing, or crushing: The coat sleeve was mangled in the gears of the machine.

to spoil; ruin; mar badly: to mangle a text by careless typesetting.

OTHER WORDS FOR mangle

2 deface; destroy.

See synonyms for mangle on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of mangle

1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French mangler, perhaps dissimilated variant of Old French mangonner “to mangle”; akin to mangonel

synonym study for mangle

1. See maim.

OTHER WORDS FROM mangle

mangler, noun

Other definitions for mangle (2 of 2)

mangle²

[ mang-guhl ]

/ ˈmæŋ gəl /

noun

a machine for smoothing or pressing clothes, household linen, etc., by means of heated rollers.

verb (used with object), man·gled, man·gling.

to smooth or press with a mangle.

Metalworking. to squeeze (metal plates) between rollers.

Origin of mangle

1765–75; <Dutch mangel ≪ Late Latin manganum.See mangonel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use mangle in a sentence

Despite some very talented speechwriters, George W. Bush was a devoted mangler of the language, something of a family tradition.
From ‘Potatoe’ to ‘Amercia’: Politicos Preserve Disorder|Ben Jacobs|May 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
“Trucks” and “The Mangler” are Arthur C. Clarke specials: machines on the rampage.
Great New Reads|The Daily Beast|October 31, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Guy Mangler had only three minutes to reëstablish an interrupted acquaintance with our young lady.
The Real Thing and Other Tales|Henry James
Mr. Mangler did nothing but say how charming he thought his hostess of the Sunday, and what a tremendously jolly visit he had had.
The Real Thing and Other Tales|Henry James

Mr. Mangler sat down; he alluded with artless resentment to the way, in July, the door of his friends had been closed to him.
The Real Thing and Other Tales|Henry James
The picture-mangler is explained by a marginal note to be, "the rascal, that cut the Duke of York's picture."
The Works Of John Dryden, Vol. 7 (of 18)|John Dryden
She had to reflect that one does what one can and that Mr. Mangler probably thought he was delicate.
The Real Thing and Other Tales|Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for mangle (1 of 2)

mangle¹

/ (ˈmæŋɡəl) /

verb (tr)

to mutilate, disfigure, or destroy by cutting, crushing, or tearing

to ruin, spoil, or mar

Derived forms of mangle

mangler, nounmangled, adjective

Word Origin for mangle

C14: from Norman French mangler, probably from Old French mahaignier to maim

British Dictionary definitions for mangle (2 of 2)

mangle²

/ (ˈmæŋɡəl) /

noun

Also called: wringer a machine for pressing or drying wet textiles, clothes, etc, consisting of two heavy rollers between which the cloth is passed

verb (tr)

to press or dry in a mangle

Word Origin for mangle

C18: from Dutch mangel, ultimately from Late Latin manganum. See mangonel

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

mangle

OTHER WORDS FOR mangle

Origin of mangle

synonym study for mangle

OTHER WORDS FROM mangle

Other definitions for mangle (2 of 2)

Origin of mangle

Words related to mangle

How to use mangle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mangle (1 of 2)

Derived forms of mangle

Word Origin for mangle

British Dictionary definitions for mangle (2 of 2)

Word Origin for mangle