1
as in abused
to abuse physically
demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in licked
to strike repeatedly
the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mauled
Most occur as the closing credits roll, whether pretending to be viciously mauled by a bear or, even more unnervingly, clearly superimposing his face onto the body of a performing cellist.
—
Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 22 Apr. 2026
Not sure ringing bells is going to do much to stop a person from getting mauled.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Eyeballs are unhoused, teeth are transplanted, a body crashes into a windshield before being mauled by wolves for good measure.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The ban was previously enacted in 2009 after a resident was mauled by a pitbull.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The film features a scene in which Luke Skywalker is savagely mauled by the yetilike Wampa.
—Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026
Fueled by those eagles, Åberg has mauled the par 5s to the tune of 8 under par, two strokes better than anyone else through two days.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Suffice it to say, sweet Amy getting mauled to death rattles everyone at the Ridge.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
There was a crisp new poster on the easel at the Werth practice facility that displayed the Big East Tournament trophy, not yet mauled in frustration and held together by tape like the regular-season version had been.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 22 Apr. 2026
Not sure ringing bells is going to do much to stop a person from getting mauled.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Eyeballs are unhoused, teeth are transplanted, a body crashes into a windshield before being mauled by wolves for good measure.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The ban was previously enacted in 2009 after a resident was mauled by a pitbull.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
The film features a scene in which Luke Skywalker is savagely mauled by the yetilike Wampa.
—Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Mar. 2026
Fueled by those eagles, Åberg has mauled the par 5s to the tune of 8 under par, two strokes better than anyone else through two days.
—Justin Ray, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
Suffice it to say, sweet Amy getting mauled to death rattles everyone at the Ridge.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
There was a crisp new poster on the easel at the Werth practice facility that displayed the Big East Tournament trophy, not yet mauled in frustration and held together by tape like the regular-season version had been.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mauled
Verb
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Jackson and his estate have denied that the pop star abused children.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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The mothers of the victims said Chasing Horse betrayed their trust and abused sacred traditions.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When a boy had licked her neck at a party during the first week of college, a stranger!—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
There was one girl who licked doorknobs.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the newlyweds arrive home, they are attacked by Naz and his henchman (played by Matt Willig).—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
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On Friday, April 24, cattle breeder Santiago Barrero San Román was attacked by the bull at the San Marcos Festival in the remote southern Spanish town of Beas de Segura, according to El País, ABC and La Razón.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The updraft knifed through the building, whose inhabitants were already suffering without heat or power for much of the winter as Russia pounded Ukraine’s energy system.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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The glass began to sway as fans pounded on it in excitement and then gave way, with pieces raining on Smith.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Those ramped up after Ottawa was completely manhandled by the Canes, and never held the lead at any point in the series.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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The $100 million price tag attached to the legal action is to make sure the city takes Brown’s allegations seriously — and ensure no one else is manhandled by the police without cause, Brown’s attorney Derek Sells of the Cochran Firm said.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lashed back at Leavitt.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2026
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Leo has not lashed out, or gotten defensive, or allowed himself to be pulled down into the gutter.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The violence then shifted to Brookhaven, where Mathews was ambushed and shot several times outside a business center.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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Some residents say frustrations over the guard eased after two members of the West Virginia contingent were ambushed just blocks from the White House, killing Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and severely injuring her colleague.—
Gary Fields,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In Manatee County, where leaders had hoped to adapt their comprehensive plan to guard against the storms that have battered the coast year after year, the same Legislature has declared that strengthening it is unlawful.—
Haley Busch,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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Same with Disney, Comcast; a lot of these companies are getting battered.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mauled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mauled. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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