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Definition of maul

maul

/mɔːl/
maul
Plural:mauls
•
Past Simple:mauled
•
Past Participle:mauled
•
Present Participle:mauling
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maul Lexical Profile

maul Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To wound or injure severely by scratching, tearing, or crushing (typically referring to an animal attack).

Example

"The hiker survived the terrifying encounter but was badly mauled by the bear."

2

To handle something or someone roughly, clumsily, or brutally.

Example

"The rare book was practically mauled by careless visitors flipping through its fragile pages."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

A heavy hammer, often with a wooden or lead head, used primarily for driving wedges, piles, or stakes.

Example

"The lumberjack swung the heavy steel maul to split the thick oak log in two."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for maul

• Nearby Words

matzah
matzo
maudlin
maul
maule river
mauler
mauling

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'malle', via Old French 'mail' from Latin 'malleus', meaning 'hammer'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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