mutilate

[myoot-l-eyt]

verb (used with object)

mutilated, mutilating 

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)

Other Word Forms

• mutilation noun
• mutilative adjective
• mutilatory adjective
• mutilator noun
• self-mutilating adjective
• self-mutilation noun
• unmutilated adjective
• unmutilative 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

They also found human skulls fashioned into soup bowls; lampshades and costumes made from human skin; and mutilated female body parts, among other nightmare fuel.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Khalusha was the prime suspect in the murder of more than 40 women whose mutilated bodies were discovered in a disused quarry that became a dumpsite in the capital, Nairobi.

Read more on BBC

Their mutilated bodies were found several days later and police revealed that their killers had livestreamed their torture and killing on Instagram.

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Ms Fasold says she imagined her father's body would be handled with respect - but instead it was "mutilated", she believes.

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Dashi's father was "murdered – shot and mutilated" in the family's pharmacy in Somalia.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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