MAULING Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

mauling 1 of 2

noun

as in thrashing

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mauling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of maul

as in abusing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in licking

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

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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 mauling

Noun

On Tuesday, with a mauling by the Tigers, Toronto moved in the wrong direction. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Avila’s sister, Patricia Avila, who was also on the job when the mauling took place, was awarded $885,000 for emotional distress, and Maria Avila’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was separately awarded $50,000. — Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026 The dogs involved in the mauling were later euthanized. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026 Those still with the team may want to exact revenge after last December’s 45-21 mauling at the hands of quarterback Joe Burrow. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2026 The area remains closed as authorities continue to investigate the apparent mauling. — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026 Seth Michael Plant, 30, died after a bear mauling that occurred during training, according to a Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson news release. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026 These were claps of relief and encouragement from a European audience bracing for a mauling like JD Vance’s onslaught last year. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026 Fresh from his online mauling at the hands of Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary, the world’s richest man can take some consolation. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 1 Feb. 2026

Verb

At the time, Guilfoyle was an assistant DA in San Francisco prosecuting a high-profile dog-mauling case and making the rounds on cable news. — Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026 While the left guard competition remains open, Jones has been on the first string for over a week since replacing Connor Colby, and Jones stood out with an aggressive, mauling nature against the Titans. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 Gunther slowed the match down, mauling Aldis and sending him flying into the corner. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 In July 2025, the San Bernardino Police Department said one of its officers fatally shot a dog after responding to an incident in which a woman later died from her injuries believed to have been caused by the dog mauling. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 21 July 2026 Another hiker survived a grizzly mauling on the popular Grinnell Glacier Trail just weeks later. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 Chris Brown was seated at the defense table in a Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday, poised to testify at his dog-mauling trial, when the judge declared a mistrial due to juror misconduct. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026 Throw in the signing of dual threat quarterback Malik Willis with the drafting of mauling offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor as well as Will Kacmarek, arguably the best blocking tight end of the 2026 class, and all signs point to the Dolphins having an elite rushing attack for quite some time. — Miami Herald, 10 June 2026 Or left tackle Theo Benedet pulling into the open field in Cincinnati, sprinting well beyond the line of scrimmage, starting his block on Geno Stone 4 yards from the sideline, then mauling the Bengals safety within inches of a bench. — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mauling

Noun

The world’s richest person, MAGA donor, chainsaw waver, baby daddy and would-be Mars colonizer takes a thrashing.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
The teenager, who has excelled for The Union by scoring seven goals and providing 12 assists in MLS this season, was called up to his first national camp this month and made his international debut in the US’ 4-1 thrashing of Peru on Saturday.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of thrashing

Verb

In an earlier episode, Pam confronts Grace’s mother about abusing her daughter and ends up bashing in the woman’s head with a meat tenderizer — which sounds like a pivotal moment but plays more like a side quest.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
The former owner of several unlicensed North Texas boarding homes pleaded guilty Monday to financially abusing and fatally neglecting elderly and disabled people in her care, according to court filings.

— Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of abusing

Verb

Teams have to be licking their chops after seeing what Tampa Bay did to Dallas last Thursday night, especially considering the defense (or lack thereof) that the Cowboys have shown through five weeks.

— Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Carter is licking his wounds after the rest of the tribe sent Ana home in a blindside.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of licking

Noun

The claim that Ukraine has halted its strikes on energy sites could not be independently verified, but neither Russian officials nor media have reported Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries since the energy truce was announced.

— HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Before the current attacks, the airport handled roughly 110,000 passengers a day — similar in scale to Miami International airport.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

Researchers constructed a hollow fiber membrane lined on the outside with palladium nanoparticles rather than attacking PFAS in open water.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives are seeking the public’s help finding a woman accused of attacking a North Lauderdale store clerk with pepper spray earlier this month.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacking

Verb

Strong winds, pounding seas and coastal flood threats will be near-constant companions for parts of North Carolina up through the Chesapeake Bay area this weekend as a nor’easter that’s expected to linger well into next week starts to take shape.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
You were expected, at the very least, to put up a good fight, and the dance could get real ugly real quick—I’ve witnessed aunties and uncles pounding their fists on the table in a yelling war and checks being ripped straight down the middle.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of pounding

Noun

Mace and Bryant were not yet engaged at the time of the October 2018 assault.

— MEG KINNARD, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
On Tuesday, the DA’s Office charged Gonzalez with assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, elder abuse, vandalism and battery.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of assault

Verb

Hours later, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, announced the suspension of Acosta’s press pass, and, for good measure, falsely accused him of manhandling the aide who wanted the mike back.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026
Ashley Delaney of Polk City, who has served on the district's board since 2024, was charged in May with misdemeanor assault for allegedly manhandling the student.

— William Morris, Des Moines Register, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of manhandling

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“Mauling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mauling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mauling

noun

verb

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