To lacerate is to tear or cut flesh, producing a jagged wound rather than a clean incision: The broken glass lacerated his arm.
The word extends to emotional damage: The criticism lacerated her pride.
A lacerating remark cuts deeply.
The noun laceration refers to the wound itself.
1. cut — slash, Angled line or swipe; gash (Deep, ragged incision); slice (Portion cut off); tear (To pull apart); rip · incise · slit · rend · score · shred · cleave · sever · hack · carve
2. grieve — wound, Coiled, or an injury; anguish (Intense mental suffering); heartache (Deep emotional distress); torment (Severe prolonged suffering); devastate · pierce · sting · pain · hurt · sorrow · suffering · affliction · agony · distress
3. criticize — excoriate, Severely criticize or censure; flay (Strip off covering); lambaste (Scold with ferocity); castigate (Reprimand severely); savage · eviscerate · scathe · denounce · condemn · berate · rebuke · censure · chastise · reprimand
Opposites
physical tissue integritylacerate ≠ heal Restore to wellness; mend · repair · restore · sew · suture
wound type precisionlacerate ≠ incise Cut into material; excise · slice · dissect · scalpel
emotional effectlacerate ≠ soothe Gently ease discomfort; comfort · heal · console · salve · balm
Categories
cutting: slicing, slice, chopping, dice, dicing; status effects: debuffed, poison, hexed, burn, cursed; scolding: scold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand; bodily harm: hurt, injure, wound, harm, injuries
Family
laceration, lacerated, lacerations, lacerating, lacerates
- Familiarity
- Top 200,000
- Profile
- Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG