Standard Lemma guide

declaw

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /diːˈklɔː/
  • rhymes with -ɔː

1

verb

Meaning 1

To surgically remove the claws of (an animal); to perform onychectomy on.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: biology, medicine, natural-sciences, pathology, sciences, veterinary, zoology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make harmless; to remove the power, authority, or force from.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, transitive

Examples

  • The acerbic comedy has been declawed by the demands of network TV.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

remove the claws from

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • declaw a cat

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: take off

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- English claw English declaw From de- + claw.