Maul

/mɔːl/ · noun

Meaning

A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat..

Definitions by Sense

1. A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat.
2. (rugby) A situation where the player carrying the ball, who must be on his feet, is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball carrier's team mates bind onto the ball carrier.
3. (botany) The fruit of the Washingtonia species.
4. To handle someone or something in a rough way.
5. (usually of an animal) To savage; to cause serious physical wounds.
6. (figuratively) To criticise harshly.
7. (transitive) To beat with a maul.
8. (sex, slang) To play rough, to fondle intensively.

Example Sentences

The bear mauled him in a terrible way.

The embattled heavy cruiser is not in immediate danger of sinking, but is being badly mauled.

A tiger handler who had acquired some of his tigers from the zoo owner known as Joe Exotic was fatally mauled on Saturday by a tiger at his family-run zoo in southeastern Oklahoma, the authorities said.

The latest film by the Cohen brothers was mauled by the press, and was a box-office flop to boot.

28 year old big, burly, bearded grizzly looking for other bears to maul me! Facial/body hair, brains a plus!

Synonyms for maul

Antonyms for maul

Related Words

Word Forms

• mauls
• mauling
• mauled

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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