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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The leading interpretation is that Smilodon delivered a single precise bite to the throat or belly, severing something vital in a target that was already helpless.
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This resulted in Time Warner spinning off Time Warner Cable in 2009, permanently severing pipes from programming.
Verb
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Now, with the federal and state government yanking back plenty of that funding and directly barring the city from enacting some of its more aggressive climate plans, Higgins is left with a narrow road to tread toward progress.
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The virtual oar-yanking celebration in a baseball atmosphere was one of those weird juxtapositions that seem to get fostered whenever a World Cup fanbase descends upon a host city.
Cite this Entry
“Amputating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amputating. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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