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Glite Dictionary
to mutilate evidence

to mutilate evidence

8.9
To destroy evidence on purpose to stop a police investigation
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : alterar pruebas
  • The suspect attempted to mutilate evidence before the police searched his house.

Examples

  • Security cameras captured someone trying to mutilate evidence in the laboratory.

  • It is a crime to mutilate evidence connected to a court case.

  • They mutilated the evidence to hide the truth.

  • Do not mutilate evidence during the investigation!

  • The thief tried to mutilate evidence that could link him to the robbery.

  • During the trial, the defense attorney warned against attempts to mutilate evidence that might exonerate the accused.

  • It is illegal to mutilate evidence because it obstructs justice.

Synonyms

to mutilate
vsto mutilate evidence
  • NSFW
73 7.4

Damage something by cutting or removing parts so it looks ruined

focuses on destroying or changing proof specifically to obstruct legal procedures
to falsify
vsto mutilate evidence
  • Formal
44 7.3

To make documents or facts not true to deceive people

targets removal or alteration of proof to hinder inquiry rather than creating false content
to deface
vsto mutilate evidence
29 5.8

Damage the surface of something by writing, scratching, or painting it

involves deeper destruction or alteration of proof to prevent investigation not just surface damage
to obliterate the evidence
vsto mutilate evidence
  • NSFW
8.1

Destroy all signs that show something happened

intentionally damages or alters proof to impede an inquiry rather than erase fully

Antonyms

to preserve
496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

How Damaging

to mutilate evidence
8.9

Surface Forms

mutilate evidence infinitive
mutilated evidence past
mutilated evidence past participle
mutilating evidence present participle
mutilates evidence third person singular

Morphology

mutilate + evidence

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from applying 'mutilate' (to damage beyond recognition) to 'evidence' (material that helps prove something), so the phrase literally means to destroy or badly damage evidence. This verb + object combination follows a straightforward compositional pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Mutilate evidence gives a clear image: mutilate means to badly cut or ruin, and evidence are the objects or papers used in a case. So it means 'to destroy or change evidence to stop an investigation'.