as in severing
medical
to remove (part of a person's body)
His arm was badly injured and had to be amputated.
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Recent Examples of amputating
That happens, but the proposal on the ballot is like amputating one’s foot to heal a blister.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
Once serious infection sets in, amputating a foot or limb may be the only option to save a patient’s life.
—
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Cassie’s life is changing all the time, while her husband, Nate Jacobs, is stuck in a finger-amputating Groundhog Day.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
The suit says that Cantrell was eventually transferred to Oregon Health & Science University hospital, where doctors immediately recognized his condition as life-threatening, stabilized him and performed multiple surgeries, including amputating his arm up to his shoulder.
—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Before his death, attempts had been made to save Abrahams by amputating his leg, ITV reported.
—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
The main characters, who wake up chained to pipes, quickly realize amputating their own foot is the only means of escape.
—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
What to know about California’s new claw law Declawing a cat involves cutting and amputating the first joint of a cat’s paw — essentially removing the toe, according to the San Francisco SPCA.
—
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2026
Once serious infection sets in, amputating a foot or limb may be the only option to save a patient’s life.
—
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Cassie’s life is changing all the time, while her husband, Nate Jacobs, is stuck in a finger-amputating Groundhog Day.
—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
The suit says that Cantrell was eventually transferred to Oregon Health & Science University hospital, where doctors immediately recognized his condition as life-threatening, stabilized him and performed multiple surgeries, including amputating his arm up to his shoulder.
—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Before his death, attempts had been made to save Abrahams by amputating his leg, ITV reported.
—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
The main characters, who wake up chained to pipes, quickly realize amputating their own foot is the only means of escape.
—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
What to know about California’s new claw law Declawing a cat involves cutting and amputating the first joint of a cat’s paw — essentially removing the toe, according to the San Francisco SPCA.
—
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for amputating
Verb
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Despite a forecast for a less active 2026 hurricane season, experts warn that a single storm can devastate communities by severing critical infrastructure like power and communications.
-
Pashinyan also repeatedly sought to soothe those fearful of severing ties with Russia, Armenia’s historical protector.
Verb
-
Keep the movement coming from your ribs, rotating, not by yanking your neck.
-
Counsell admitted postgame that yanking Imanaga might not have been the right move.
Cite this Entry
“Amputating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amputating. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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