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Glite Dictionary
to desex

to desex

1 8.3
To stop an animal from having babies by removing or damaging its reproductive organs
  • verb
  • /dɪˈsɛks/
  • Australian
translation icon : esterilizar
  • At this point in time, I have no behavioral or medical reasons (roaming, aggression, marking, etc.) to have desexed any of the dogs I have owned in the past or own now.

But you see, The thing is, Sam desexes the character.

Examples

  • I agree 100% that if you can't prevent your dog from unplanned and irresponsible breeding, then you should have your dog desexed.

    Blog text (16)

  • I think I have the right to make an informed decision as to whether I desex my dogs or not, and I will do so if I think that it is in the best interests of my dog and not to make someone else happy.

    Blog text (16)

  • Dogs are not all identical, and neither are family situations, so, in my opinion, all dogs do not need to be mandatorily desexed.

    Blog text (16)

  • I have done a lot of research on this matter, and while there are definitely reasons to have a dog desexed, there are also reasons against having a dog desexed.

    Blog text (16)

  • KEN: So you insist on desexing her... ...as though sex were synonymous with dirt.

    Diner (1982)

  • I have done a lot of research on this matter, and while there are definitely reasons to have a dog desexed, there are also reasons against having a dog desexed.

    Blog text (16)

  • Many pet owners choose to desex their animals to prevent unwanted litters.

  • It is recommended to desex your cat before they reach sexual maturity to avoid complications.

  • After discussing the options with the veterinarian, we decided to desex our dog to ensure a healthier life.

Synonyms

to fix
vsto desex
  • Informal
46 7.5

To make an animal unable to have babies

also applies to people as well as animals
to neuter
vsto desex
37 5.3

To remove an animal's organs used to make babies so it cannot reproduce

applies to both animals and people, not only animals
to alter
vsto desex
26 8.1

To remove a female animal's ovaries so it cannot have young

covers both sexes and can involve deactivation rather than only surgery
to castrate
vsto desex
  • NSFW
21 9.1

To remove the sex organs of a person or animal so they cannot have young

also includes nonremoval methods like deactivation rather than only organ removal
to sterilize
vsto desex
  • Specialized
15 5.8

To make a person or animal unable to have children by a medical operation

focuses on disabling or removing reproductive organs to prevent future reproduction
to spay
vsto desex
  • Specialized
11 7.1

To remove a female animal's ovaries so it cannot have babies

applies to both sexes and to people as well as animals
to desexualize
vsto desex
  • Specialized
9.3

To make a person or animal unable to have babies

focuses on removing or deactivating reproductive organs rather than changing functions
to demasculinize
vsto desex
  • Specialized
9.9

To remove a male animal's testicles

applies to both sexes and includes nonremoval sterilization methods
to defeminize
vsto desex
  • Specialized
9.9

To remove a female animal's ovaries so she cannot have babies

focuses only on preventing reproduction, not on changing sex characteristics or behavior

How Sterile

to castrate
  • NSFW
21 9.1
to desex
  • Australian
1 8.3
to sterilize
  • Specialized
15 5.8

Surface Forms

desex infinitive
desexed past
desexed past participle
desexing present participle
desexes third person singular

Morphology

desex = sex (semi-transparent) = de + sex

The prefix suggests removal and the link to 'sex' is clear, but the conventional meaning narrows specifically to surgical or medical sterilization rather than a fully general removal of sex.

Etymology

The word desex comes from the prefix de- meaning 'remove' and sex meaning 'male or female'. So to desex an animal is to remove or change its sex organs so it cannot have babies.