Maim vs Wound

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Maim

Top 5,000 (fairly common) B1 verb

Wound

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Most common: Wound

	Maim	Wound
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //meɪm// 🇺🇸 //meɪm//	🇬🇧 /["/wuːnd/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/wuːnd/"]/
Meaning	To seriously hurt someone's body.	An injury to the body, often involving a break in the skin.
Example	The explosion could maim several people if it happens.	The soldier received a serious wound during the battle.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	B2
Part of speech	verb	noun
Collocations	maim someone, maimed for life, accidentally maim	deep, serious, severe, inflict, receive, suffer, close, heal, bleed, care, healing, wound in, wound to
Antonyms	heal, recover	heal, cure
Common mistakes	Confused with 'main' - they sound similar but mean different things., Using 'maim' for minor injuries, which is inappropriate as it implies serious harm., Incorrectly using 'maimed' as an adjective instead of past participle.	Confused with 'wound' as in past tense of 'wind'., Using 'wound' instead of 'injury' in non-medical contexts., Mispronouncing it as 'hownd' instead of 'woond'.
Usage notes	Use 'maim' when referring to causing severe physical injury, often in a violent context. Avoid in casual conversations.	Used in both formal and informal contexts. More common in medical situations or when talking about injuries. Avoid using it lightly, as it can sound serious.

See it in real clips

Wade, you got an exit wound.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

We've forgotten men who reaped much more than a wound.

Wade, you got an exit wound.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

We've forgotten men who reaped much more than a wound.

Wound

Frequently asked questions: Maim vs Wound

What's the difference between Maim and Wound?

Maim: To seriously hurt someone's body. Wound: An injury to the body, often involving a break in the skin.

Which is more common: Maim and Wound?

Wound is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Maim and Wound?

Wound is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Maim and Wound the same CEFR level?

Maim: B1, Wound: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Maim and Wound?

Maim: verb, Wound: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Maim: The explosion could maim several people if it happens. Wound: The soldier received a serious wound during the battle.

Can I use Maim and Wound interchangeably?

Not always. Maim and Wound 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.