Synonyms of carcass
1
: a dead body : corpse
especially : the dressed body of a meat animal
Butchers trimmed the meat from the carcass.
2
: the living, material, or physical body
It was nearly noon when he finally hauled his carcass out of bed.
3
: the decaying or worthless remains of a structure
the carcass of an abandoned automobile
4
: the underlying structure or frame of something (as of a piece of furniture)

Examples of carcass in a Sentence

the rusting carcass of an old truck the carcass of a squirrel that had been run over
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Von Lyskowski and his workers sprayed some trees with nematodes, a parasitic worm that kills caterpillars and reproduces inside their carcasses. Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026 Nathu is told that the carcass is required for veterinary purposes, but it is later placed on the steps of a mosque to provoke Muslim anger since pigs are traditionally considered unclean in Islam. Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026 Roasted vegetables, nubs of cheese, those scraps left on the roast chicken carcass—all fair game. Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 July 2026 After the impact, a juvenile orca is seen eating some of the smaller pieces of the fish, while the adults eat from the remaining carcass. Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for carcass

Word History

Etymology

Middle English carcays, from Anglo-French carcas, carkeis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of carcass was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carcass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carcass. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a dead body
especially : the body of a meat animal prepared for market

Medical Definition

: a dead body : corpse
especially : the dressed body of a meat animal

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