declaw

verb

de·​claw (ˌ)dē-ˈklȯ How to pronounce declaw (audio)
declawed; declawing; declaws

transitive verb

: to remove the claws of (an animal, such as a cat) surgically

Examples of declaw in a Sentence

We had our cats declawed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
California is now the largest state to ban declawing cats, joining New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, In Defense of Animals said. Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025 After West Hollywood became the first city in California to ban declawing in 2003, the veterinary association sued and won in superior court to overturn the ban. Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2025 The declawing law, Assembly Bill 867, carried bipartisan support, with legislators approving it last month. Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025 In What Happened, Hillary Clinton explained how her unlucky campaign lost to Donald Trump, and how a luckier one — with James Comey declawed and writing mystery novels — could beat him. David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for declaw

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of declaw was in 1953

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Declaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declaw. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

declaw

transitive verb
de·​claw (ˌ)dē-ˈklȯ How to pronounce declaw (audio)
: to remove the claws of (a cat) usually with the nail matrix and all or part of the last bone of the toe
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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