mutilate
Damage beyond recognition
To mutilate is to inflict severe damage, especially by cutting, tearing, or removing parts.
The word most often applies to bodies: The killer mutilated the corpse.
It extends to objects and abstractions—a mutilated manuscript has passages torn out or destroyed.
Self-mutilation refers to intentional injury to one's own body.
The damage implied is disfiguring, not merely harmful.
Inflict disabling wound
- dismemberCut off limbs
- disfigureDamage appearance permanently
- amputateSurgically remove a limb
- severCut apart completely
mangle · lacerate · wound · scar · cripple · disable · hack · slash
maim
Inflict disabling wound
sever · mangle · lacerate · wound · scar · cripple · disable · hack · slash · gash
deface
Damage a surface's appearance
- vandalizeDeliberately damage property
- desecrateViolate what's sacred
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
destroy · ravage · wreck · mar · spoil · blemish · deform · distort · corrupt · obliterate
censor
One who suppresses content
- editModify written material
- redactConceal text for secrecy
- bowdlerizeRemove objectionable content
excise · expurgate · abridge · cut · alter · corrupt · distort · garble · truncate · butcher
- female genital mutilationCutting of girls' genitals
- cattle mutilationUnexplained surgical animal deaths
- genital mutilationCutting of intimate organs
mutilated, mutilation, mutilating, mutilates, mutilations, mutilator, unmutilated, mutilators, self-mutilation