What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mauled
Example
The hiker was mauled by a bear in the woods. [mauled: past tense]
Example
The boxer was mauled by his opponent in the ring. [mauled: past participle]
mangle
Example
The worker's hand was mangled in the factory machinery. [mangled: past participle]
Example
She accidentally mangled her favorite shirt in the washing machine. [mangled: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mangle is more commonly used than mauled in everyday language. Mangle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mauled is less common and is typically used in specific contexts such as animal attacks or physical assaults.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mauled and mangle?
Both mauled and mangle are associated with negative connotations and are generally considered informal words. However, mangle can also be used in a more formal context when referring to the distortion of speech or writing.
