Mutilating: meaning, definitions and examples

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mutilating

 

[ ˌmjuːtɪˈleɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

physical harm

Mutilating refers to the act of inflicting severe damage or injury to a person or an animal, often resulting in the loss of a body part or serious alteration of appearance. It is a deliberate act that can be motivated by various reasons, including punishment, revenge, or a distorted sense of justice. This term is typically used in contexts involving violence or extreme cruelty. Mutilation can also describe the process of damaging or ruining objects or artworks.

Synonyms

disfiguring, injuring, maiming, wrecking

Examples of usage

  • The criminal was charged with mutilating his victim.
  • The animal had been mutilated beyond recognition.
  • Reports indicated that the vandal had been mutilating public sculptures.
  • The horror movie featured scenes of mutilating creatures.

Translations

Translations of the word "mutilating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mutilando

🇮🇳 विकृत करना

🇩🇪 verstümmeln

🇮🇩 memutilasi

🇺🇦 мутилюючи

🇵🇱 mutilując

🇯🇵 mutilating

🇫🇷 mutilant

🇪🇸 mutilando

🇹🇷 mutilasyon

🇰🇷 절단하는

🇸🇦 تشويه

🇨🇿 mutilující

🇸🇰 mutilujúci

🇨🇳 残害

🇸🇮 mutilirajoč

🇮🇸 mutilating

🇰🇿 мутиляция

🇬🇪 მუტილაცია

🇦🇿 mutilasiya

🇲🇽 mutilando

Etymology

The word 'mutilate' derives from the Latin 'mutilatus', which means 'to cut off a part'. 'Mutilatus' is formed from the root word 'mutilus', meaning 'maimed' or 'defective'. In English, the term began to be used around the late 14th century, primarily in contexts related to physical injury inflicted on living beings. Over time, its usage evolved to encompass not only physical harm but also damage to inanimate objects and artworks. The concept of mutilation carries a heavy connotation of violence and intentional cruelty, reflecting societal concerns regarding the treatment of individuals, animals, and cultural heritage. Today, the term is frequently employed in legal discussions, horror literature, and accounts of war atrocities, emphasizing the gravity and severity of the act.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,573 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.