mutilate

Meaning

Verb

1. To physically harm as to impair use, notably by cutting off or otherwise disabling a vital part, such as a limb.
2. To destroy beyond recognition.
3. To render imperfect or defective.

Adj

1. (obsolete) Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated.
2. Having fin-like appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean does.

Synonyms

maim

cripple

mangle

spoil

injure

disfigure

mar

damage

truncate

murder

fell

harm

cut off

ruin

hurt

automutilate

chop

cut down

cut up

destroy

impair

torment

torture

vitiate

wound

snap off

amputate

hew

deface

ill-treat

make an incision

cut into

kneecap

lop

cut

curtail

manhandle

brutalise

maul

mess up

mistreat

break

belabour

saw

🪚

scourge

section

slash

belabor

squash

strong-arm

tear

top

🔝

make ugly

be cruel to

trample

trim

batter

vandalise

discerp

hamble

cut to pieces

deteriorate

dismember

dull

deprive

hack

haggle

deform

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmjuː.tɪˌleɪt/

Etymology

From Latin mutilatus, the past participle of mutilo (“to mutilate”), itself from mutilus (“maimed”).