View synonyms for maim

maim

[ meym ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

to deprive of the use of some part of the body by wounding or the like; cripple:
The explosion maimed him for life.
to impair; make essentially defective:
The essay was maimed by deletion of important paragraphs.
Synonyms: mar, deface, disable, injure

noun

, Obsolete.

a physical injury, especially a loss of a limb.
an injury or defect; blemish; lack.

maim

/ meɪm; ˈmeɪmɪdnɪs /

verb

to mutilate, cripple, or disable a part of the body of (a person or animal)
to make defective

noun

obsolete.
an injury or defect

Discover More

Derived Forms

maimedness, noun
ˈmaimer, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

maim·er noun
re·maim verb (used with object)

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of maim¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English mayme, variant of mahayme mayhem

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of maim¹

C14: from Old French mahaignier to wound, probably of Germanic origin

Discover More

Synonym Study

Maim, lacerate, mangle, mutilate indicate the infliction of painful and severe injuries on the body. To maim is to injure by giving a disabling wound, or by depriving a person of one or more members or their use: maimed in an accident. To lacerate is to inflict severe cuts and tears on the flesh or skin: to lacerate an arm. To mangle is to chop undiscriminatingly or to crush or rend by blows or pressure, as if by machinery: bodies mangled in a train wreck. To mutilate is to injure the completeness or beauty of a body, especially by cutting off an important member: to mutilate a statue, a tree, a person.

Discover More

Example Sentences

When Iron Dome misses -- and it does sometimes miss -- the Gaza rockets kill and maim only within a very limited radius.

From The Daily Beast

But what chances should I have given them to kill or maim us: Fifty-fifty?

From The Daily Beast

On land and in sea the animal creation chase and maim, and slay and devour each other.

From Project Gutenberg

We came in peace and goodwill, not to maim and slay, or to spread alarm and desolation through thy land.

From Project Gutenberg

If a man maim another, and does not compromise with him, there shall be retaliation in kind.

From Project Gutenberg

Still there were left at liberty enough to maim cattle and shoot at landlords.

From Project Gutenberg

Tho' I am not unhealthy, yet I am very weak, know maim therefore I hope it won't be long maim.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

Word of the Day

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

mailshot mai mai

Browse