mauled

American  

[mawld] / mɔld /

adjective

1. harshly treated.

   The critically mauled movie sequel has also led to countless parodies and imitations.

2. badly injured or damaged.

   In the aftermath of the fox’s visit, Robin found half her chickens missing and a badly mauled rooster inside the chicken house itself.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of maul.

Other Word Forms

• unmauled adjective

Etymology

Origin of mauled

maul ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

More recently, he appeared in “Fallout” just long enough for his character to be mauled to death by a mutant bear.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026

He treasures that trait even as he has hidden it beneath armor to avoid “being too badly mauled by the vicissitudes of life.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2025

In 2019, an 83-year-old homeless man was mauled by a black bear while sleeping in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2025

A man in Canada's far north leapt on to a polar bear to protect his wife from being mauled, police say.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2024

“But most cat trainers will tell you that getting mauled is not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when and how bad the mauling is going to be.”

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith