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.

Until fairly recently, women so dreaded it that they avoided discussing it, even among themselves; some, fearing the mutilative surgery required to control cancer, avoided examinations that could detect the disease.

From Time Magazine Archive

George Jorgensen went to Denmark and returned, after a series of operations, as "Christine," the U.S. public and medical profession alike were appalled at what seemed to be "mutilative surgery."

From Time Magazine Archive