mutilate
verb
mu·ti·late
ˈmyü-tə-ˌlāt 
mutilated; mutilating; mutilates
1
: to cut up or alter radically so as to make imperfect
The child mutilated the book with his scissors.
a painting mutilated by vandals
2
: to cut off or cause severe damage to a limb or essential part of
His arm was mutilated in the accident.
Examples of mutilate in a Sentence
a painting mutilated by vandals
was lucky not to be mutilated in the car crash
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition to wounds on Mogen’s forearm and hands, her face was mutilated.
—
Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Her body had been severely mutilated, with additional parts reportedly recovered later in the month.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 30 June 2025
Her body was left mutilated by the side of the road.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025
Maxwell Anderson was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide or first-degree reckless homicide, mutilating a corpse, arson and hiding a corpse on June 6, 2025, WISN reported.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutilate
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Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 24 July 2025
Her body had been severely mutilated, with additional parts reportedly recovered later in the month.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 30 June 2025
Her body was left mutilated by the side of the road.
—Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 19 June 2025
Maxwell Anderson was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide or first-degree reckless homicide, mutilating a corpse, arson and hiding a corpse on June 6, 2025, WISN reported.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutilate
Cite this Entry
“Mutilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutilate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mutilate
verb
mu·ti·late
ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt
mutilated; mutilating
1
: to make imperfect by cutting or altering severely : ruin
mutilate a play
2
: to cut off or destroy a necessary part (as a limb) : maim
Medical Definition
mutilate
transitive verb
mu·ti·late
ˈmyüt-ᵊl-ˌāt
mutilated; mutilating
: to cut off or cause severe damage to a limb or essential part of
mutilate a body
also
: castrate sense 1
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