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

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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

Examples of mangle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even a bombing that mangled his car and bodyguards with it left Tan himself with nothing more than a headache and shrapnel in his shoe. —

Matt Thompson, SPIN, 18 July 2024 How long before her average-looking boyfriend tires of her perfection and mangles her heart? —

Edan Lepucki, The Atlantic, 12 July 2024 Incinerated car pieces were strewn along the street and sidewalk, with one house’s fence mangled after the crash. —

Jasmine Hilton, Washington Post, 2 July 2024 Competing in the event finals at the DTB Pokal Team Challenge, Malone peeled off the high bar on his dismount and mangled his right knee. —

Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for mangle

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mangle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.