MANGLE Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'mangle' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mangle are batter , cripple , maim , and mutilate . While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds. // a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

Q: When would 'batter' be a good substitute for 'mangle'?

Although the words batter and mangle have much in common, batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate. // an old ship battered by fierce storms

Q: When could 'cripple' be used to replace 'mangle'?

While in some cases nearly identical to mangle , cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg. // crippled for life in an accident

Q: When is 'maim' a more appropriate choice than 'mangle'?

The meanings of maim and mangle largely overlap; however, maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence. // maimed by a shark

Q: Where would 'mutilate' be a reasonable alternative to 'mangle'?

The synonyms mutilate and mangle are sometimes interchangeable, but mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function. // a tree mutilated by inept pruning

mangle

verb

ˈmaŋ-gəl

Definition of mangle next

as in to fumble

to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way you've mangled this so badly that we'll have to do it over

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb mangle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of mangle are batter, cripple, maim, and mutilate. While all these words mean "to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage," mangle implies a tearing or crushing that leaves deep wounds.

a soldier's leg mangled by shrapnel

When would batter be a good substitute for mangle?

Although the words batter and mangle have much in common, batter implies a series of blows that bruise deeply, deform, or mutilate.

an old ship battered by fierce storms

When could cripple be used to replace mangle?

While in some cases nearly identical to mangle, cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg.

crippled for life in an accident

When is maim a more appropriate choice than mangle?

The meanings of maim and mangle largely overlap; however, maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence.

maimed by a shark

Where would mutilate be a reasonable alternative to mangle?

The synonyms mutilate and mangle are sometimes interchangeable, but mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function.

a tree mutilated by inept pruning

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mangle Led by vocalist Christina Michelle’s hair-raising screams, Deep Sage mangles everything in its path with thick basslines and switchblade guitars until the floor is bloodied but the air, at long last, is cleansed. —

Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2024 The other car, on Cesar Chavez, was mangled at the curb. —

David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2024 According to the outlets, the Mercedes could be seen flipped on its side after the crash, and the white Tesla was mangled. —

Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 24 Nov. 2024 Liman mangles the escalation from disaster to disaster, but the sequence at least preps us for how many Boston gags to expect going forward. —

Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mangle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mangle

Verb

Now, contrast that to the recent experience of Ravens tight end Mark Andrews who, as every devoted local football fan will recall, both fumbled and dropped a crucial two-point conversion pass in a must-win playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.

— Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Jan. 2025
Like Fuhrman, many were nervous about teachers fumbling over technology and classmates not paying attention.

— Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025