as in autopsy
examination of a dead body especially to find out the cause of death
a necropsy failed to definitively establish a cause of death
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Recent Examples of necropsy
The cause of death is unknown and the PMMC staff will do a preliminary assessment followed by a necropsy, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman Michael Milstein.
—
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 Feb. 2026
Results from lab tests and a necropsy — an animal autopsy — performed at the agency’s lab in Fort Collins were pending on Wednesday.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2026
The agency said necropsies were completed and the horse carcasses were buried.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 31 Jan. 2026
However, only birds that receive a necropsy are recorded.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for necropsy
Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 Feb. 2026
Results from lab tests and a necropsy — an animal autopsy — performed at the agency’s lab in Fort Collins were pending on Wednesday.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Feb. 2026
The agency said necropsies were completed and the horse carcasses were buried.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 31 Jan. 2026
However, only birds that receive a necropsy are recorded.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for necropsy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for necropsy
autopsy
Noun
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The remains were discovered with clothing and an apparent gunshot wound to the skull, according to the autopsy.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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His official cause and manner of death are pending the results of an autopsy, according to the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office website.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Necropsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/necropsy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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