mutilate
C1Formal, often used in legal, medical, journalistic, and literary contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To severely damage or injure a living being, especially by cutting off or destroying a part of the body.
To ruin the appearance, completeness, or integrity of something by damaging or removing essential parts; to alter something so drastically that its original form or function is lost.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies severe, often violent, disfigurement or destruction. Carries strong negative connotations of cruelty, barbarity, or senseless damage. Can be applied literally to bodies or figuratively to objects, texts, or ideas.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British news media when reporting on violent crimes, but overall usage is comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] mutilates [Object][Object] was mutilated by [Agent][Object] got mutilated in/ during [Event]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this verb.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used figuratively: 'The merger mutilated the company's original brand identity.'
Academic
Used in history, law, medicine, and literature to describe physical violence or textual corruption.
Everyday
Used in news reports or serious discussions about violence, accidents, or vandalism.
Technical
Used in forensic medicine, pathology, and conservation (e.g., mutilated manuscripts, mutilated coins).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The vandals mutilated the historic painting with spray paint.
- He was horrifically mutilated in the industrial accident.
American English
- The editor mutilated my article, removing all the critical points.
- The animal appeared to have been mutilated by a predator.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. The adverbial form 'mutilatingly' is extremely rare and non-standard.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb. The adverbial form 'mutilatingly' is extremely rare and non-standard.
adjective
British English
- The mutilated remains were discovered by a walker.
- She received a mutilated cheque in the post.
American English
- The mutilated document was barely legible.
- Authorities are searching for the mutilated statue's missing head.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The storm mutilated the old tree.
- Do not mutilate library books.
- The ancient text was mutilated, with several key pages torn out.
- Victims of the attack were brutally mutilated.
- The film's director accused the studio of mutilating his final cut with excessive edits.
- Forensic evidence suggested the body had been mutilated post-mortem.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MUTE' + 'LATE'. If you are mutilated, you might be rendered mute (unable to speak) and it's too late to undo the damage.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM/EDITING IS MUTILATION (e.g., 'The censors mutilated the script.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'калечить' (which is closer to 'cripple' or 'maim') in all contexts. 'Mutilate' implies more severe, often intentional, disfigurement.
- Avoid using it for minor injuries or damage; it is a strong word.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for minor cuts or scratches (too strong).
- Confusing it with 'mutilate' (verb) and 'mutilation' (noun) in sentence structure.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'mutilate' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Injure' is a general term for harm. 'Mutilate' is much more severe and specific, implying permanent disfigurement or the loss of a body part.
Yes, it can be used figuratively for objects, texts, or ideas to mean ruining them by removing or destroying essential parts (e.g., a mutilated passport, a mutilated argument).
No, it can describe the result of an accident (e.g., mutilated in a crash), but it very often carries connotations of deliberate, violent action.
The noun form is 'mutilation' (e.g., bodily mutilation, genital mutilation).