verb
C2
Proficient
mangle
MANG-gl
Mangle (verb) means to damage something badly by crushing, tearing, or cutting it out of shape. Example: “The car door was mangled in the crash.”
verb
1
To damage something badly by crushing, tearing, or cutting it out of shape.
"The car door was mangled in the crash."
"He mangled his finger in the machinery at the factory."
2
To ruin or badly botch something, such as words or a piece of work.
"The presenter mangled the CEO's name twice during the introduction."
noun
1
A hand-cranked device with rollers used to wring water out of wet laundry.
"Grandma still keeps an old mangle in the wash house."
How to use mangle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo wreck or badly damage something through crushing or careless handling — or, as a noun, the old-fashioned wringer used for laundry.
Common pairings
mangled beyond recognition
a mangled wreck
put through the mangle
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Word forms
- Plural
- mangles
- Third person singular
- mangles
- Past tense
- mangled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The car door was _____ in the crash.
Etymology
From an Anglo-Norman word meaning "to cut to pieces" or "to mutilate," ultimately of Germanic origin, related distantly to "mayhem."
Related words
Rhymes for mangle
See all rhymes for mangle →Frequently asked questions
What does “mangle” mean?
The word “mangle” means to damage something badly by crushing, tearing, or cutting it out of shape. In plain terms, to wreck or badly damage something through crushing or careless handling — or, as a noun, the old-fashioned wringer used for laundry.
How do you pronounce “mangle”?
“Mangle” is pronounced MANG-gl (/ˈmæŋ.ɡ(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “mangle” in a sentence?
Here is “mangle” used in a sentence: “The car door was mangled in the crash.”
What part of speech is “mangle”?
Depending on how it is used, “mangle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “mangle” come from?
The word “mangle” comes from Germanic. From an Anglo-Norman word meaning "to cut to pieces" or "to mutilate," ultimately of Germanic origin, related distantly to "mayhem.".
How many meanings does “mangle” have?
“Mangle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to damage something badly by crushing, tearing, or cutting it out of shape.
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