Definitions

maul

[mawl] / mɔl /

VERB

mangle, abuse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

beat up bludgeon drub lacerate molest mug pummel rough up thrash trample

STRONG

bang bash batter beat buffet claw clean flagellate flail hit hurt ill-treat lash maltreat muscle paste paw pelt pound skin wax whip

WEAK

break face handle roughly knock about knock around lean on let have it put in the hospital take care of work over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

protect

STRONG

aid assist help lose surrender

WEAK

guard maintain take care

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Wales stayed in the fight, and while usually conceding on the stroke of half-time, pulled one back off another well-worked driving maul, with Jones dotting down.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

Matthews, who is departing Scotstoun this summer for French side Montauban, did what he has done so many times before by finishing off a rolling line-out maul to score.

From BBC • May 8, 2026

Wales hit back almost immediately off line-out ball, Kelsey Jones finding Bethan Lewis before joining the back of the rolling maul and dotting down.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Ellis Genge was dispatched to the sin-bin seat of shame in Paris, adjudged to have cynically dragged down a France driving maul that was destined for the line.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

He rolled them over with a peavey and pounded them with the flat face of a splitting maul, testing for the ringing tone that indicated soundness.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Vocabulary lists containing maul

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