AMPUTATE Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

amputate

verb

Definition of amputate

as in to sever

medical to remove (part of a person's body) His arm was badly injured and had to be amputated.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

reattach

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of amputate The Broadway star endured mini-strokes, blood clots, septic infections and a tracheostomy before doctors amputated his right leg. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026 Thomas had his foot amputated following his accident and is the first person to compete on The Challenge with a prosthetic limb. — Emma Banks, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 In 2008 she was diagnosed with brain cancer, and her left leg was later amputated. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026 Kloots documented his entire stay on social media, even as Cordero had his leg amputated because of blood clots. — Shelby Stivale, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for amputate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for amputate

Verb

Across the Sahel region, a vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert, militaries that grabbed power citing security failures have severed ties with longtime Western security allies and turned to Russia.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Prosecutors have long suspected Burke used a chainsaw to sever Hernandez’s limbs in his garage last April and tried to collect the blood in a kiddie pool.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of sever

Verb

The trooper grabs the man by his wrist and his dreadlocks and began yanking his upper body through the window, the video shows.

— Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
As the man was unconscious, Slawson was accused of yanking the suspect out of the police vehicle, causing the man to hit and split his head on the concrete, the press release stated.

— Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of yank

Browse Nearby Words

amp (up)

amputate

amputated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Amputate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/amputate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of amputate

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

dissonant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes