Mutilate
verb
To harm or damage something severely, usually by cutting or tearing parts off.
The mutilated remains of the car were barely recognizable after the crash.
verb
To destroy or altern a document, message, or work of art, making it less meaningful or less valuable.
Vandals mutilated several pieces of public art.
verb
In medical science, to remove or damage a particular part of the body, often by surgery.
The surgeon was forced to mutilate the body part to prevent further spread of the infection.
verb
In psychology, to harm oneself or another person physically, especially in a dangerous or serious way.
His frustration and self hatred caused him to mutilate himself in a fit of despair.
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To harm or damage something severely, usually by cutting or tearing parts off.
The mutilated remains of the car were barely recognizable after the crash.
verb
To destroy or altern a document, message, or work of art, making it less meaningful or less valuable.
Vandals mutilated several pieces of public art.
verb
In medical science, to remove or damage a particular part of the body, often by surgery.
The surgeon was forced to mutilate the body part to prevent further spread of the infection.
verb
In psychology, to harm oneself or another person physically, especially in a dangerous or serious way.
His frustration and self hatred caused him to mutilate himself in a fit of despair.
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Damage
Mutilate implies severe physical damage, often beyond repair.
The sculpture was mutilated beyond recognition.
Pro Tip 2/3Intentional Act
Mutilate usually suggests the damage was caused deliberately.
Someone mutilated the painting with a knife.
Pro Tip 3/3Severe Connotation
The word carries a strong negative connotation, indicating revulsion or horror.
The news reported the mutilated state of the victims.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Damage
Mutilate implies severe physical damage, often beyond repair.
The sculpture was mutilated beyond recognition.
Pro Tip 2/3Intentional Act
Mutilate usually suggests the damage was caused deliberately.
Someone mutilated the painting with a knife.
Pro Tip 3/3Severe Connotation
The word carries a strong negative connotation, indicating revulsion or horror.
The news reported the mutilated state of the victims.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Damage
Mutilate implies severe physical damage, often beyond repair.
The sculpture was mutilated beyond recognition.
Pro Tip 2/3Intentional Act
Mutilate usually suggests the damage was caused deliberately.
Someone mutilated the painting with a knife.
Pro Tip 3/3Severe Connotation
The word carries a strong negative connotation, indicating revulsion or horror.
The news reported the mutilated state of the victims.
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Video examples
Megan Kamerick: Women...
and they would not have gotten some of those stories without female reporters and editors on the ground, particularly one on female genital mutilation -- men would just not be allowed into those situations. This is an important point to consider, because much of our foreign policy now revolves around countries
Video examples
The Mummy's Curse PIPE Lost...
Very sad. The ancient Egyptians would have dreaded this kind of mutilation. They went to huge lengths to mummify and protect their dead believing that to succeed in the afterlife, key elements of the body and soul must be preserved intact.
Video examples
Khadija Gbla: My...
the confusion that I felt, because now I realized that what was done to me was a terrible thing that in this society was called barbaric, it was called mutilation. My mother had said it was called circumcision, but here it was mutilation.
Video examples
Jimmy Carter: Why I...
an end to racial discrimination against girls and women all over the world. The average woman in Egypt doesn't have much to say about her daughters getting genitally mutilated and so forth. I didn't even go down to detail about that.
Video examples
Empower a girl,...
and I spent my childhood helping my mother cook, clean, farm and take care of my siblings. Like other Maasai girls, I was engaged from a very young age to be married. But as I reached puberty, I underwent female genital mutilation,
Video examples
The life, legacy &...
He cultivated a movement for women’s liberation, outlawing forced marriages, polygamy and genital mutilation. He was the first African leader to appoint women to key political positions and actively recruit them to the military.
Video examples
Embrace your raw,...
trying to help us all refuse the awful bargains we've been taught to take. We're taught to turn ourselves and our work into little nuggets that are easily digestible; taught to mutilate ourselves so that we make sense to others,
Video examples
The opportunity of...
stalled, maimed, wounded, mangled, lame, mutilated, run-down, worn-out, weakened, impotent, castrated, paralyzed, handicapped, senile, decrepit, laid-up, done-up, done-for, done-in
Video examples
Fun, Fierce and...
and female genital mutilation. It's vital and important art, but it cannot be the only art that comes out of the continent. We have to tell more stories that are vibrant.
Video examples
Letting go of outdated...
center for girls and they're there this very courageous Masai woman who decided to challenge the tradition of female genital mutilation and also start to try
Video examples
Megan Kamerick: Women...
and they would not have gotten some of those stories without female reporters and editors on the ground, particularly one on female genital mutilation -- men would just not be allowed into those situations. This is an important point to consider, because much of our foreign policy now revolves around countries
Video examples
The Mummy's Curse PIPE Lost...
Very sad. The ancient Egyptians would have dreaded this kind of mutilation. They went to huge lengths to mummify and protect their dead believing that to succeed in the afterlife, key elements of the body and soul must be preserved intact.
Video examples
Khadija Gbla: My...
the confusion that I felt, because now I realized that what was done to me was a terrible thing that in this society was called barbaric, it was called mutilation. My mother had said it was called circumcision, but here it was mutilation.
Video examples
Jimmy Carter: Why I...
an end to racial discrimination against girls and women all over the world. The average woman in Egypt doesn't have much to say about her daughters getting genitally mutilated and so forth. I didn't even go down to detail about that.
Video examples
Empower a girl,...
and I spent my childhood helping my mother cook, clean, farm and take care of my siblings. Like other Maasai girls, I was engaged from a very young age to be married. But as I reached puberty, I underwent female genital mutilation,
Video examples
The life, legacy &...
He cultivated a movement for women’s liberation, outlawing forced marriages, polygamy and genital mutilation. He was the first African leader to appoint women to key political positions and actively recruit them to the military.
Video examples
Embrace your raw,...
trying to help us all refuse the awful bargains we've been taught to take. We're taught to turn ourselves and our work into little nuggets that are easily digestible; taught to mutilate ourselves so that we make sense to others,
Video examples
The opportunity of...
stalled, maimed, wounded, mangled, lame, mutilated, run-down, worn-out, weakened, impotent, castrated, paralyzed, handicapped, senile, decrepit, laid-up, done-up, done-for, done-in
Video examples
Fun, Fierce and...
and female genital mutilation. It's vital and important art, but it cannot be the only art that comes out of the continent. We have to tell more stories that are vibrant.
Video examples
Letting go of outdated...
center for girls and they're there this very courageous Masai woman who decided to challenge the tradition of female genital mutilation and also start to try
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Paul Merton
British Comedian
I'm always amazed to hear of air crash victims so badly mutilated that they have to be identified by their dental records. What I can't understand is, if they don't know who you are, how do they know who your dentist is?
Quote examples
Nicholas Kristof
American Journalist
There seems to be this sense among even well-meaning Americans that Africa is this black hole of murder and mutilation that can never be fixed, no matter what aid is brought in.
Quote examples
Molly Ivins
American Journalist
Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I have been on blind dates better than that.
Quote examples
Michelle Bachelet
Chilean Politician
In some places women have all the rights they deserve and in others there are big restrictions - in some countries they even mutilate women.
Quote examples
Sienna Miller
American Actress
You want to feel that you can do something creative that you love without being picked apart and mutilated for other people's pleasure.
Quote examples
Chris Hedges
American Journalist
Rape, mutilation, abuse, and theft are the natural outcome of a world in which force rules, in which human beings are objects.
Quote examples
Mary Docter
American Athlete
I've been so mutilated by a lot of articles. I know I haven't said a lot of things I'm quoted as saying in the papers.
Quote examples
Jack Nicholson
American Actor
I don't have any plugs or tucks but people do what they want. I look at it as mutilation.
Quote examples
Elie Wiesel
American Novelist
No one may speak for the dead, no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
Life does not need to mutilate itself in order to be pure.
Quote examples
Paul Merton
British Comedian
I'm always amazed to hear of air crash victims so badly mutilated that they have to be identified by their dental records. What I can't understand is, if they don't know who you are, how do they know who your dentist is?
Quote examples
Nicholas Kristof
American Journalist
There seems to be this sense among even well-meaning Americans that Africa is this black hole of murder and mutilation that can never be fixed, no matter what aid is brought in.
Quote examples
Molly Ivins
American Journalist
Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I have been on blind dates better than that.
Quote examples
Michelle Bachelet
Chilean Politician
In some places women have all the rights they deserve and in others there are big restrictions - in some countries they even mutilate women.
Quote examples
Sienna Miller
American Actress
You want to feel that you can do something creative that you love without being picked apart and mutilated for other people's pleasure.
Quote examples
Chris Hedges
American Journalist
Rape, mutilation, abuse, and theft are the natural outcome of a world in which force rules, in which human beings are objects.
Quote examples
Mary Docter
American Athlete
I've been so mutilated by a lot of articles. I know I haven't said a lot of things I'm quoted as saying in the papers.
Quote examples
Jack Nicholson
American Actor
I don't have any plugs or tucks but people do what they want. I look at it as mutilation.
Quote examples
Elie Wiesel
American Novelist
No one may speak for the dead, no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions.
Quote examples
Simone Weil
French Philosopher
Life does not need to mutilate itself in order to be pure.
Example 1 of 10
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