# mangled

/ˈmæŋɡəɫd/ (US) · /mˈæŋɡəld/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mangled
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to twist or crush something so badly that it is no longer in its original shape. You use this when something is broken or damaged in a messy way.

For teachers: to twist, crush, or tear something violently, resulting in a distorted or broken state. Often used to describe physical damage to objects or the distortion of language.

## Examples

- The car was mangled in the accident.
- The old typewriter keys were so mangled that the machine could no longer type a single letter correctly.
- The witness's testimony was so mangled by the cross-examination that the jury struggled to determine the actual sequence of events.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.