mutilation
noun
mu·ti·la·tion
ˌmyü-tə-ˈlā-shən 
plural mutilations
1
: an act or instance of destroying, removing, or severely damaging a limb or other body part of a person or animal
the mutilation of a body
They were men who had been sexually damaged by disease, accident, or deliberate mutilation.—
James J. O'Donnell
James J. O'DonnellHis book contains very many gruesome accounts of murder and mutilation, and page after page describing torture in almost salacious detail.—Geoffrey Wheatcroft
see also female genital mutilation
Geoffrey Wheatcroft2
: an act or instance of damaging or altering something radically
Evidence suggests that the mutilation of the sculptures was deliberate.
Thus an author has the right of paternity (authorship) and integrity (the right to object to derogatory actions, distortion, mutilation or other modifications in relation to his or her work that would be prejudicial to the artist's honor or reputation).—Judith Nierman
Judith NiermanCritics described the proposed structure as a "vast pile of masonry" that they feared would never be removed and would become a "permanent mutilation of Hyde Park."—Henry Petroski
Henry PetroskiExamples of mutilation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Things like pro-gender transition propaganda in schools, mutilation of children, and claims that there are a myriad of sexes are out of favor in the age of common sense.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Carey Dale Grayson, now 49, was one of four teenagers convicted of capital murder in the torture, bludgeoning and mutilation of Vickie Lynn Deblieux on Feb. 21, 1994.
—Marty Roney, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
But in describing the attacks, language itself performs its own secondary mutilation.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
It’s repeatedly described as chemical and surgical mutilation, or as maiming and sterilizing kids.
—Elana Redfield, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutilation
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Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Carey Dale Grayson, now 49, was one of four teenagers convicted of capital murder in the torture, bludgeoning and mutilation of Vickie Lynn Deblieux on Feb. 21, 1994.
—Marty Roney, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
But in describing the attacks, language itself performs its own secondary mutilation.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
It’s repeatedly described as chemical and surgical mutilation, or as maiming and sterilizing kids.
—Elana Redfield, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutilation
Cite this Entry
“Mutilation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mutilation. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mutilation
noun
mu·ti·la·tion
ˌmyüt-ᵊl-ˈā-shən
1
: deprivation of a limb or essential part especially by excision
the mutilation of a body
2
: an instance of mutilating
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