mutilation

UK: /ˌmjuːtɪˈleɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌmjutəˈleɪʃən/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mu•ti•late /ˈmyutəˌleɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

1. to injure the appearance of, by damaging parts:
   to mutilate a painting.

mu•ti•la•tion /ˌmyutəˈleɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
mu•ti•la•tor, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mu•ti•late  (myo̅o̅t′l āt′), v.t., -lat•ed, -lat•ing. 

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

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

mu′ti•la′tion, n. 
mu′ti•la′tive, mu•ti•la•to•ry  (myo̅o̅t′l ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  mu′ti•la′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. damage, mar, cripple.
• 2. See maim.