mutilated - Master This Word
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mutilated Word Meanings
- to severely damage or disfigure a body part
- to impair the completeness of something
- to cut off or destroy a limb
mutilated Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
mutilated Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈmjuːtɪleɪt/
US
/ˈmjuːtlˌeɪt/
mutilated Word Etymology
mutilate = mute (to shut) + -ate (to make) → Latin 'mutilare' → English. Imagine a warrior in battle, who loses a limb, representing the act of being made less whole.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
To mutilate means to severely damage or disfigure a body part or something that was once whole. The term carries a strong, often graphic sense, implying harm that alters form, function, or wholeness. It can describe physical injury, as in battle or an accident, or the deliberate destruction of objects, plans, or works of art. Mutilation conveys not just damage but a serious breach of integrity with lasting consequences. The word comes from Latin mutilare, from mute ‘to shut’ and -are ‘to make’, and in English it remains a stark, concrete verb. Use milder verbs for minor harm; reserve mutilate for extreme, violent, or dehumanizing damage, whether literal or metaphorical.
Usage Reminders
- Keep the intensity in check; avoid for minor damage. Use in violent, graphic, or highly metaphorical contexts. Mind the noun form 'mutilation'. Pair with adjectives like severe or extreme. Prefer plain 'damage' for neutral reporting. Be aware of sensitive connotations in media.
Common Misconceptions
- Mistaking mutilate for merely 'damage' or 'harm'.
- Using it for cosmetic or everyday wear and tear.
- Thinking it is always physical; can be metaphorical.
- Confusing with 'mutate' or 'mutilation' as benign terms.
- Assuming it applies only to humans, ignoring objects and plans.
Thinking Differences
Mutilate in English is a blunt, graphic verb. Learners often overuse it in metaphor or apply it to minor wear; choose milder verbs for mild damage and reserve this for severe, intentioned harm or brutal imagery.
Learning Tips
- Pair with milder verbs for minor harm.
- Note the strong connotation in media reports.
- Differentiate between physical harm and metaphorical use.
- Remember the noun form 'mutilation'.
- Practice with both literal and figurative contexts.
- Compare with synonyms like damage, deform, disfigure.
Related Listening
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