Mangling Meaning in English
word · lemma: mangle
Definition
Damaging or distorting something severely, especially by crushing, twisting, or tearing it; also used figuratively for ruining or badly performing something, like speech or writing.
Usage & Nuances
Often used for physical damage (e.g., machines, objects, body parts) but also common figuratively, especially for language ('mangling' words, names, sentences). Slightly formal in physical sense, informal in figurative usage. Don't confuse with 'tangling' (getting twisted together).
Example Sentences
He was accused of mangling the song during his performance.
basic
My dog is always mangling his toys.
basic
He's always mangling people's names when he tries to pronounce them.
natural
The accident left the car mangled beyond repair.
natural
Your phone number got totally mangled when I tried copying it down.
natural
The machine kept mangling the paper.
basic