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
Schabusiness was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murder, rape and mutilation back in 2023.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Jonathan Renteria was arrested on Sept. 11 and was charged with murder and the mutilation of human remains.
—ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
Torture, mutilations, massacres.
—Greg Grandin
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Though the mutilations would not be publicly viewed, the description in print alone was enough to grip the imagination of Angelenos and propel the story to the front pages of newspapers across the country.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mutilation
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Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Jonathan Renteria was arrested on Sept. 11 and was charged with murder and the mutilation of human remains.
—ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
Torture, mutilations, massacres.
—Greg Grandin
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
Though the mutilations would not be publicly viewed, the description in print alone was enough to grip the imagination of Angelenos and propel the story to the front pages of newspapers across the country.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 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 31 Oct. 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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