Cool MateMaul vs Tear
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Maul
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Tear
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Tear
| Maul | Tear | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //mɔːl//🇺🇸 //mɔl// | 🇬🇧 /["/teə(r)/","/teəz/","/tɔː(r)/","/tɔːn/","/ˈteərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ter/","/terz/","/tɔːr/","/tɔːrn/","/ˈterɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To injure someone badly by attacking them. | To pull something apart or damage it by force. |
| Example | The lion began to maul its prey as the crowd watched in horror. | She began to tear the paper into small pieces. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | maul by a dog, maul a victim, seriously maul, maul to death, mauling incident | badly, easily, almost, threaten to, at, from, off, tear free, tear loose, tear something in half, badly, easily, almost, threaten to, at, from, off, tear free, tear loose, tear something in half |
| Antonyms | - | mend, repair, fix |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'mull' (to think over), Using 'maul' when referring to gentle play instead of harm., Incorrect tense usage, e.g., 'mauls' instead of 'mauling'. | 'Tear' confused with 'tear' (opposite meaning) when pronounced differently., Using the wrong form: 'teared' instead of 'tore'., Confusing 'tear' with 'rip' in casual conversation. |
| Usage notes | Used primarily in contexts involving animals or physical attacks. Avoid in formal writing; instead use 'attack' or 'assault'. | Use 'tear' for physical ripping or when describing emotional sadness (e.g., 'to tear up'). Avoid using in overly formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Maul vs Tear
What's the difference between Maul and Tear?
Maul: To injure someone badly by attacking them. Tear: To pull something apart or damage it by force.
Which is more common: Maul and Tear?
Tear is the most common in everyday English.
Can I use Maul and Tear interchangeably?
Not always. Maul and Tear are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.