mutilate

[ myoot-l-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, mu·ti·lat·ed, mu·ti·lat·ing.

1. to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts:

   Vandals mutilated the painting.

   Synonyms: cripple, mar, damage

2. to deprive (a person or animal) of a limb or other essential part.

mutilate

/ ˈmjuːtɪˌleɪt /

verb

1. to deprive of a limb, essential part, etc; maim; dismember
2. to mar, expurgate, or damage (a text, book, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˌmutiˈlation, noun
• ˈmutiˌlator, noun
• ˈmutiˌlative, adjective

Other Words From

• muti·lation noun
• muti·lative mu·ti·la·to·ry [myoot, -l-, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• muti·lator noun
• self-muti·lating adjective
• self-muti·lation noun
• un·muti·lated adjective
• un·muti·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutilate¹

1525–35; from Latin mutilātus (past participle of mutilāre “to cut off, maim”), equivalent to mutil(us) “maimed, mutilated” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutilate¹

C16: from Latin mutilāre to cut off; related to mutilus maimed

Synonym Study

See maim.

Example Sentences

A military defector codenamed “Caesar,” and “Sami,” a relative who assisted him, smuggled thousands of photos out of Syria showing mutilated, tortured, and emaciated corpses strewn across the floors of Syrian government detention centers.

From Time

After the man’s body was recovered, his mutilated left leg probably detached and was placed on his chest when he was buried, the researchers say.

From Science News

The thing with translators is that you have to cut off the oratory, mutilate the ideas to give them time to do their work.

From Washington Blade

False rumors swirled that Hughes had mutilated Pearl Farlow’s throat and breasts, sending the mob into a murderous rage.

From Washington Post

Their world, like Paul’s, was full of monsters determined to abuse, kidnap and mutilate kids.

From Washington Post

Prisoners there became severely depressed: some began to compulsively mutilate themselves; others attempted suicide.

From The Daily Beast

With cynical cruelty, he set himself to insult, to undermine, to mutilate it.

From Project Gutenberg

It would not mutilate and disfigure the body, for it is a sacred temple, to be made beautiful and attractive.

From Project Gutenberg

You mutilate my brain with your clumsy pincers—you put your claws into my thoughts and tear them to pieces!

From Project Gutenberg

Not only does the censorship mutilate literary works, but it often suffocates the inspiration of the author.

From Project Gutenberg

This dispatch, too, the House of Commons took care to mutilate before sending it to the press.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amputate
• butcher
• damage
• deface
• disfigure
• dismember
• distort
• hack
• injure
• maim
• mangle
• ravage