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.
Flies buzz over the rotting carcass, which is riven by claw marks so unnaturally deep that no one can determine whomauledit. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026 Their charred carcasses litter the steep lanes leading to the villages, while the houses have been reduced to nothing more than piles of smoking ashes. ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 Strain broth into second pot; discard bones, carcass, wings, and vegetables. Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 One of dogs was fatally shot by a Mecklenburg County sheriff’s deputy, and its carcass will be submitted for a necropsy and rabies testing, officials said. Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 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 7 Sep. 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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