dismember

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈmem-bər How to pronounce dismember (audio)
Definition of dismembernext
1
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly quickly dismembered the old toolshed and hauled it off to the dump

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to dismantle
to take apart dismembered the stage settings after the last performance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dismember Compaq, the world’s largest PC maker at $42 billion in 2000, was swallowed by Hewlett-Packard, which then dismembered itself into four public companies. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026 Los Angeles police investigators never recovered any of the tools Burke allegedly used to dismember Hernandez, and there are no witnesses who actually saw the murder. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Singer D4vd has parted ways with his legal representation in favor of public defenders for his case in which he is accused of allegedly killing and dismembering a 14-year-old girl. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026 Two of Hernandez’s fingers, including one with Burke’s name tattooed on it, had been dismembered, when she was found, according to prosecutors. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dismember
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dismember
  1. disrupt
  2. dismantle
  3. break
  4. detach
  5. destroy
  6. disassemble
  7. disconnect
Verb
  • Sectarian tensions and the disrupting force of the Cold War plunged the Middle Eastern nation into decades of armed conflict, with a chilling effect on daily life.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The team radio can disrupt Antonelli’s concentration, so Wolff told me that the engineers have learned how to use it less often, or with fewer words.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • On Wednesday, the mood was gleefully electric as Atlanta comprehensively dismantled their opponents to take control of the series.
    — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, El-Sayed pointed to a funding issue and pushed to fund the Department of Education, which is being dismantled following executive orders signed in 2025.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of dismantle
Verb
  • Miami Hurricanes star wide receiver Malachi Toney once again broke records on Saturday.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Senate Democrats first elected in 1958 established a critical mass that would later drive the bipartisan super-majorities needed to break the filibuster and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
    — Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of break
Verb
  • However, the mural was detached and transferred to canvas in 1899 following the dispersal of the estate and then divided into eight fragments.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The robotic vehicle's initial drogue parachute deployed successfully, but its main parafoil detached during deployment, leaving the prototype unable to slow its descent before crashing into the ground, according to ESA officials.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of detach
Verb
  • Cities outside Paris have been hit hard by the unrest, including Limoges where a fire nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Animal diseases also threaten our economy and food system, destroying more than 20% of global livestock production each year.
    — Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • To begin the overhaul, Weigand disassembled the clock on site, carefully detaching the heavy weights and unhooking the pendulum.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Engineers rely on expensive metal molds or complex tools that must be disassembled before removal.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of disassemble
Verb
  • The Village House Situated in Teton Village and almost entirely surrounded by forest, this home makes disconnecting easy.
    — Lindsay Cohn, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Andrew Kravchenko | Bloomberg | Getty Images After SpaceX restricted use of its Starlink and Starshield satellite internet services in Ukraine, causing fast-moving drones to disconnect and drop out of the sky, Kyiv is looking for alternatives.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of disconnect

Browse Nearby Words

dismays
dismember
dismembered
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Cite this Entry

“Dismember.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dismember. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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