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Definition of maim

maim

/meɪm/
maim
Adjective:maimed
•
Past Simple:maimed
•
Past Participle:maimed
•
Present Participle:maiming
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maim Lexical Profile

maim Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To wound or injure (someone) so severely that a part of the body is permanently damaged or unable to function.

Example

"Strict workplace safety regulations were introduced after heavy machinery threatened to maim factory operators."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for maim

• Nearby Words

mailroom
mailshot
mailvan
maim
main
main river
mainboard

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French mahaignier ('to mutilate, cripple, or disable'), which is also the source of the legal doublet 'mayhem'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Maim. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maim
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