MAUL Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

maul 1 of 2

verb

Definition of maul

as in to abuse

to abuse physically demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to lick

to strike repeatedly the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

maul

2 of 2

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 maul

Verb

The native dogs are known to have killed baby Azaria Chamberlain, who was taken in the outback in 1980, and mauled Canadian tourist Piper James, who died on K’Gari off the coast of Queensland earlier this year. — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026 And, a year ago, a 71-year-old woman was mauled to death by four dogs in Miami Gardens. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Noun

The half ended with the Free Jacks once again putting the Sabercats under pressure, trying to force their way over the tryline through a rolling maul, and twice failing to score. — Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025 Minutes later, Hanover scored back-to-back tries with near identical mauls down the sideline. — Marcello Rossetti, Boston Herald, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for maul

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maul

Verb

After teenage boys first reported that they had been abused in 2005, Church of the Resurrection conducted an internal investigation that court records show was inconclusive.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Acton’s campaign on Tuesday posted a video of her brother, who supported her backstory about living in a tent and being abused.

— Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of abuse

Verb

Occupying a particularly picturesque and secluded stretch of headland, where Aleppo pines drape rocky coves and the cerulean Mediterranean waves lick the similarly shaded horizon, the resort is the hospitality group’s first foray into the Balearics.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
Some wagged their tails as people approached, licked their hands and even liked to be petted.

— Alida de Flamingh, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of lick

Noun

Peters has acknowledged using hard drugs and smashing the bones of his face with a hammer to maximize his looks.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The 911 caller told police that their schizophrenic son had struck her 69-year-old husband on the head with a hammer.

— WCCO Staff, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of hammer

Verb

Egypt's president sought to reassure the public that the country wouldn't attack Yemen, and that the military support is limited to defending Saudi territory.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Back in 2023, Stevens revealed he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare auto-immune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves—and was working to relearn how to walk and use his hands.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Noun

He was arrested last week after allegedly using a sledgehammer to damage the World War II monument near Marine Corps Base Quantico.

— Sophia Compton , Jake Gibson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
The Europol report, meanwhile, revealed that these heists are increasingly using tools such as sledgehammers, axes, crowbars –– and even explosives.

— Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of sledgehammer

Verb

He got stuffed by double-team blocks and turned away by larger Toronto wings, who manhandled the slighter forward in his attempts to create downhill momentum.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
The Dallas Cowboys were manhandled by the Green Bay Packers 23-13 on Sunday night to drop to 2-4 this season.

— Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of manhandle

Verb

The snake tried to circle and squeeze, but the rat lashed with her claws and teeth.

— Madeline ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
News of the briefing leaked, and the senators lashed out at the FBI, saying their efforts to scrutinize the Biden family had been discredited and falsely linked to Russian disinformation.

— Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of lash

Browse Nearby Words

maudlin

maul

mauled

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Maul.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maul. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of maul

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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