This meaning refers to a violent physical attack causing serious wounds, often by an animal.
The bear mauled the hiker.
The dog was badly mauled by another animal.
This figurative meaning refers to overwhelming an opponent or subjecting someone or something to severe criticism.
The champions mauled the visiting team.
Reviewers mauled the poorly written novel.
This meaning refers to a heavy, long-handled tool combining features of an axe and a sledgehammer.
He split the log with a maul.
The worker used a maul to drive the post into the ground.
