mauling 1 of 2

noun

as in thrashing

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mauling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of maul
1
as in abusing
to abuse physically demonstrators who claimed that they had been mauled by the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in licking
to strike repeatedly the irate store owner was mauling the shoplifter when the police showed up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
  1. thrashing
  2. abusing
  3. licking
  4. attack
  5. attacking
  6. pounding
  7. assault
  8. manhandling
Noun
  • 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
  • The Chiefs began their season with consecutive conference victories — first a 31-10 thrashing of the Denver Broncos before a 33-30 overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of thrashing
Verb
  • Berry’s ex-husband Olivier Martinez accused the actor of physically abusing their 12-year-old son last month.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • As reports of officers abusing Flock have made headlines and the company has become increasingly controversial, hundreds of cities and counties have ended or suspended their contracts with the company, or decided not to renew them.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of abusing
Verb
  • The team also pointed out that the same circuit is responsible for the expression of normal, context-appropriate grooming and licking.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In the post, Wouter was pictured wearing a dog cone, which is used to prevent pets from licking, chewing or scratching surgical sites or wounds.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of licking
Noun
  • In Congo, where the outbreak has spread to seven provinces, responders have faced attacks on health teams, misinformation about the virus, a failure by locals to report symptoms and rebel violence that has limited access to treatment centers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
  • An inmate died in an apparent homicide Tuesday morning after an attack by another prisoner at California State Prison, Sacramento, state corrections officials said.
    — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Verb
  • Murtis of the goddess Durga depict her astride a lion and attacking Mahishasura.
    — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The president appeared to be attacking Andrews, a biological woman, over her alleged support of gender transitions for minors and transgender athletes in women’s sports.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of attacking
Verb
  • One man was already pounding another's head into a small hole that prisoners used as a toilet.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Breaking Benjamin As pounding as any heavy metal band, this Pennsylvania group hammers its way to surprisingly melodic choruses.
    — Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of pounding
Noun
  • The University of Arizona has suspended activities at its fraternities following persistent reports of misconduct, including assault, hazing and drug and alcohol-related behavior, a university official said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Fleming was received from Los Angeles County in 2019 to serve a 42-year sentence for second-degree robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
    — Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 7 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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Cite this Entry

“Mauling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mauling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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