AUTOPSY Synonyms: 6 Similar and Opposite Words

autopsy

noun

ˈȯ-ˌtäp-sē

Definition of autopsy

as in dissection

examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death the autopsy revealed an advanced stage of cancer

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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 autopsy Authorities found no visible signs of trauma, and the Greenville County Coroner's Office said an autopsy found no traumatic injuries that contributed to Panettiere's death. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 The autopsy has already been completed, but authorities are waiting on toxicology findings to determine the cause and manner of her death. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 21 Aug. 2026 Neither autopsy has yielded solid answers about how Wells died. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026 In the autopsy, Arriaga’s blood was found to contain an amount of the opioid Demerol that would’ve been toxic even for an adult, investigators wrote in an affidavit supporting Hemphill’s arrest warrant. — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for autopsy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for autopsy

Noun

Our range includes a meandering cowboy odyssey that sprawls from a nowhere town in Texas to Big Sky country, a poignantly observant memoir from a wild child Dreamlander, and a careful dissection of a situationship set to the rhythms of 1970s Brazil.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Advertisement Graham, who died earlier this month of an aortic dissection, spent some of his final days in Ukraine on his 10th visit to the country since it was invaded by Russia in 2022.

— Chantelle Lee, Time, 28 July 2026

Definition of dissection

Noun

The primary cause of death was a laceration of the spleen, though measles antibodies were found in postmortem testing.

— Finch Walker, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Until recently, diagnosing Alzheimer’s required a medical history and exam as well as postmortem evidence of two abnormal proteins associated with the disease called amyloid and tau.

— Anand Kumar, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of postmortem

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autopsies

autopsy

autoroute

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

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Synonyms of autopsy

noun

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