mutilate

[ myoot-l-eyt ]
/ ˈmyut lˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), mu·ti·lat·ed, mu·ti·lat·ing.

to injure, disfigure, or make imperfect by removing or irreparably damaging parts: Vandals mutilated the painting.
to deprive (a person or animal) of a limb or other essential part.

Origin of mutilate

1525–35; < Latin mutilātus (past participle of mutilāre to cut off, maim), equivalent to mutil(us) maimed, mutilated + -ātus -ate1

SYNONYMS FOR mutilate

1 damage, mar, cripple.
2 See maim.

OTHER WORDS FROM mutilate

Words nearby mutilate

muted, mutein, mutha, muti, muticous, mutilate, mutilating keratoderma, mutilation, mutineer, mutinous, mutiny

Example sentences from the Web for self-mutilation

British Dictionary definitions for self-mutilation (1 of 2)

self-mutilation

noun

the act or an instance of mutilating oneself

British Dictionary definitions for self-mutilation (2 of 2)

mutilate
/ (ˈmjuːtɪˌleɪt) /

verb (tr)

to deprive of a limb, essential part, etc; maim; dismember
to mar, expurgate, or damage (a text, book, etc)

Derived forms of mutilate

mutilation, noun mutilative, adjective mutilator, noun

Word Origin for mutilate

C16: from Latin mutilāre to cut off; related to mutilus maimed