cauterize

verb

cau·​ter·​ize ˈkȯ-tə-ˌrīz 

cauterized; cauterizing

transitive verb

1

: to sear with a cautery or caustic

cauterize a wound

2

: to make insensible : deaden

They will do anything to stay in office; their consciences have been cauterized.

cauterization

ˌkȯ-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Synonyms of cauterize

• reduce
• blunt
• deaden
• dull
• diminish
• benumb
• weaken

Examples of cauterize in a Sentence

The doctors cauterized the wound.

time had cauterized his bitterness, and he was willing to let bygones be bygones

Recent Examples on the Web

Jemison also underwent a second procedure shortly after the stent placement to cauterize some veins that her body had created as alternate pathways that would no longer be necessary after the stenting. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2026

Your best bet is to have a derm cauterize, snip or freeze them off. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 18 Aug. 2026

Wembanyama has always looked to cauterize weaknesses before accentuating strengths. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 10 June 2026

In the real world, many countries in Latin America still await solutions that, like Iolaus’ method, help cauterize the wounds and end the expansion of organized crime. — Sol Amaya, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see cautery

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cauterize

verb

cau·​ter·​ize ˈkȯt-ə-ˌrīz 

cauterized; cauterizing

: to burn with a hot iron or a chemical substance usually to destroy infected tissue

cauterize a wound

cauterization

ˌkȯt-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

cauterize

transitive verb

cau·​ter·​ize

variants or British cauterise

ˈkȯt-ə-ˌrīz 

cauterized or British cauterised; cauterizing or British cauterising

: to sear with a cautery or caustic

cauterization noun

or British cauterisation

ˌkȯt-ə-rə-ˈzā-shən