Maul

To maul means to handle or treat roughly; to injure or wound by a rough beating, or tearing. It can also mean to criticize harshly, often in a verbal or metaphorical sense, indicating a severe and damaging attack. The term implies a level of force and potential for harm, whether physical or emotional. It's often associated with an animal's aggressive attack or a forceful, damaging act by a person, extending to any situation where something is roughly handled or severely criticized. The consequences of being mauled often include visible wounds or, in a figurative sense, psychological damage.

Maul meaning with examples

• The grizzly bear, startled by the hiker, turned and mauled him, leaving deep claw marks and severe lacerations that required immediate medical attention. The unfortunate hiker was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, after being mauled by the surprised and defensive animal.
• The dog, unchained and excited by the sight of a cat, began to maul its favorite toy, tearing the stuffing out in a frenzy of playful aggression. Children, laughing at the scene, pointed and giggled as the formerly lovable stuffie was mauled, and reduced to a cottony mess by the pet.
• After the disastrous product launch, the press began to maul the company's CEO, criticizing his leadership and questioning the future of the business. The scathing reviews highlighted numerous flaws, turning the media from fans to vicious critics who mauled any claim to success.
• The new political candidate's stance on immigration was mauled by his opponent during the televised debate, who skillfully exposed the policy's shortcomings and weaknesses. The challenger mauled the incumbents beliefs, and tore them apart, by skillfully using a set of counterfactuals.