Maim vs. Mutilate — What's the Difference?

To injure, disable, or disfigure, usually by depriving of the use of a limb or other part of the body. See Synonyms at mangle.

To injure severely or disfigure, especially by cutting off tissue or body parts.

To make imperfect or defective; impair

To physically harm as to impair use, notably by cutting off or otherwise disabling a vital part, such as a limb.

To wound seriously; to cause permanent loss of function of a limb or part of the body.

To destroy beyond recognition.

(obsolete) A serious wound

(figuratively) To render imperfect or defective.

To deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person in fighting less able either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary.

(obsolete) Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated.

To mutilate; to cripple; to injure; to disable; to impair.

(zoology) Having fin-like appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean does.

The privation of the use of a limb or member of the body, by which one is rendered less able to defend himself or to annoy his adversary.

Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated.

The privation of any necessary part; a crippling; mutilation; injury; deprivation of something essential. See Mayhem.

Having finlike appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean.

Injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration or mutilation;

A cetacean, or a sirenian.

To cut off or remove a limb or essential part of; to maim; to cripple; to disfigure; to hack; as, to mutilate the body, a statue, etc.

To destroy or remove a material part of, so as to render imperfect; as, to mutilate the orations of Cicero.

Destroy or injure severely;

Alter so as to make unrecognizable;

Destroy or injure severely;