mutilate
4 synonyms for mutilate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To severely damage or disfigure something, often by cutting off a part.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use mutilate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
mutilate a body
mutilate a text
Etymology
From Latin mutilatus, the past participle of mutilare, "to maim," from mutilus, "maimed."
Full origin of mutilate →Frequently asked questions
What does “mutilate” mean?
The word “mutilate” means to severely damage or disfigure something, often by cutting off a part. In plain terms, to badly damage or disfigure, whether a body, an object, or a piece of work.
How do you pronounce “mutilate”?
“Mutilate” is pronounced MYOO-tih-layt (/ˈmjuː.tɪˌleɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “mutilate” in a sentence?
Here is “mutilate” used in a sentence: “The vandals mutilated the statue beyond repair.”
What is another word for “mutilate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mutilate” include maim and mangle.
What part of speech is “mutilate”?
“Mutilate” is a verb.
Where does the word “mutilate” come from?
The word “mutilate” comes from Latin. From Latin mutilatus, the past participle of mutilare, "to maim," from mutilus, "maimed.".
How many meanings does “mutilate” have?
“Mutilate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to severely damage or disfigure something, often by cutting off a part.
