declaw
verb
de·claw
(ˌ)dē-ˈklȯ 
declawed; declawing; declaws
: 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
Ban on declawing cats With bipartisan support, legislators approved a bill that would largely ban declawing cats.
—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Imagine losing the tips of all your fingers at the last joint—that’s what declawing does to cats.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 2 Sep. 2025
Along with her anxiety, Mia also has her two front paws declawed.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025
In October 2022, Maryland joined New York in banning cat declawing operations.
—Dr. Devon B. Smith, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for declaw
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Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Imagine losing the tips of all your fingers at the last joint—that’s what declawing does to cats.
—Molly Higgins, Wired News, 2 Sep. 2025
Along with her anxiety, Mia also has her two front paws declawed.
—Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2025
In October 2022, Maryland joined New York in banning cat declawing operations.
—Dr. Devon B. Smith, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for declaw
Cite this Entry
“Declaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declaw. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
declaw
transitive verb
de·claw
(ˌ)dē-ˈklȯ
: to remove the claws of (a cat) usually with the nail matrix and all or part of the last bone of the toe
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