Definitions

rigor mortis

[rig-er mawr-tis, rahy-gawr] / ˈrɪg ər ˈmɔr tɪs, ˈraɪ gɔr /

NOUN

stiffening at death

Synonyms

WEAK

death rattle muscular stiffening swan song

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The breath stops, the heart stops, the brain stops and rigor mortis soon appears.

From Salon • Jul. 14, 2023

“This implies they were put there before rigor mortis set in or after it had passed.”

From New York Times • May 16, 2023

Amid the war dead lies a horse on its back, presumably in a state of rigor mortis but better resembling a house pet in need of a belly rub.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2023

The paramedics were called into a room where the lead nurse was performing CPR on a dead man with rigor mortis.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 6, 2023

Once removed from its pore, the hair immediately stiffened in rapid rigor mortis.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer