Word
maim
US/ˈmeɪm/
UK/mˈeɪm/
Definition
v. to hurt a person or animal very badly, so that part of the body is badly damaged for life.
v. to inflict serious physical injury that causes permanent loss of function or disfigurement, especially loss of a limb or sense.
Examples
“The trap can maim small wild animals.”
“The explosion maimed several workers and left the factory closed for months.”
“Landmines continue to maim civilians long after conflicts end, leaving villages to care for survivors with life-changing injuries.”
Examples
simple
“The trap can maim small wild animals.”
contextual
“The explosion maimed several workers and left the factory closed for months.”
complex
“Landmines continue to maim civilians long after conflicts end, leaving villages to care for survivors with life-changing injuries.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “maim” in context.
Verb
01. bomb maim
“The car bomb maimed twelve bystanders outside the embassy.”
noun + verb
02. explosion maim
“The gas explosion maimed three workers in the kitchen.”
noun + verb
03. landmine maim
“A buried landmine maimed two farmers crossing the field.”
noun + verb
04. maim child
“Unexploded shells continue to maim children in conflict zones.”
verb + noun
05. maim civilian
“The bombing maimed dozens of civilians in the market.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. badly maim
“The explosion badly maimed several factory workers.”
adv + verb
07. horribly maim
“Landmines horribly maimed civilians long after the war ended.”
adv + verb
Noun
08. maim beyond recognition
“The victim was maimed beyond recognition by the blast.”
verb + prep + noun
09. maim for life
“He was maimed for life by a firework accident.”
verb + prep + noun
10. maim in attack
“Several villagers were maimed in the rebel attack.”
verb + prep + noun
11. kill or maim civilians
“The militia used bombs designed to kill or maim civilians.”
12. left dead or maimed
“Dozens of passengers were left dead or maimed after the crash.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“But for the last year, she has been in and out of surgery to save the remnants of her right hand and both eyes, maimed when Israel detonated booby-trapped pagers in Lebanon.” “Fifteen-year-old Eysa Mohammed was collecting water near her home in northern Ethiopia's Afar region when an explosion underfoot tore shrapnel into her leg, making her one of a growing number of children maimed by weapons discarded in the country's civil war.” “The BBC has spoken to Rohingya Muslims maimed after apparently stepping on landmines as they fled Myanmar (Burma).” Etymology
From Middle English maymen, mahaymen, from Anglo-Norman maheimer, mahaigner, of Germanic origin; see mayhem.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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