dismantle
Americanverb (used with object)
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dismantles,
present (3rd person singular)
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dismantled,
past participle, past
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dismantling
present participle
-
to deprive or strip of apparatus, furniture, equipment, defenses, etc..
to dismantle a ship; to dismantle a fortress.
-
to disassemble or pull down; take apart.
They dismantled the machine and shipped it in pieces.
-
to divest of dress, covering, etc..
The wind dismantled the trees of their leaves.
verb
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to take apart
-
to demolish or raze
-
to strip of covering
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
dismantlesimple
-
dismantlessimple
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have dismantledperfect
-
has dismantledperfect
-
am dismantlingprogressive
-
are dismantlingprogressive
-
is dismantlingprogressive
-
have been dismantlingperfect progressive
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has been dismantlingperfect progressive
Past
-
dismantledsimple
-
had dismantledperfect
-
was dismantlingprogressive
-
were dismantlingprogressive
-
had been dismantlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of dismantle
From the Middle French word desmanteler, dating back to 1570–80. See dis- 1, mantle
Explanation
To take something apart or down is to dismantle it. If you dismantle a computer to see what it looks like inside, you better know how to put it back together, or you might be looking at the inside of your room for awhile. Dismantle is a verb used for both physical things and ideas. You can dismantle a campground by taking down the tents and breaking apart the fire logs, or you can dismantle a government by going against its leadership and bringing down its rule. Often when you dismantle something, you take away its ability to work, as with a nuclear warhead, but you can also take apart decorative or non-working things, as when you dismantle a science-fair display or a city made of blocks.
Vocabulary lists containing dismantle
The Alchemist
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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A Long Way Gone
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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.
See Examples For:
Some polymers contain bonds that microbial enzymes can attack, allowing bacteria to dismantle them into smaller molecules.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
But was it the singular experience that set a man on a decades-long mission to dismantle technological society?
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
What’s it like being able to impart some of the truth about Iranian culture in ways that can dismantle stereotypes that have been fed to Americans or what we see on the news?
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Such troops are much less likely than regular soldiers to dismantle illegal outposts, experts say.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
If we involve the GSC, they might dismantle the STM before we get Ridge back.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Raman contends that Bass’ signature program Inside Safe, which dismantles encampments and moves people living there into motels, hotels and interim housing, is overly expensive and unsustainable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
Unlike many recyclers, which melt electronic waste in bulk, the Royal Mint dismantles devices first.
From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026
Justice Elena Kagan’s majority opinion on Monday dismantles that theory piece by piece.
From Slate ● Jun. 29, 2026
The agreement requires the Lebanese state to take back control of its territory a little at a time as it disarms and dismantles the militant group.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
He dismantles the machine, stares into its circuits, lets his fingers trace the journeys of electrons.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
When American forces discovered and dismantled the B8 reactor in 1945, it had never achieved criticality.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., circled back later in the hearing and methodically dismantled the exchange.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
In the superstar quarterback’s return from knee surgery, Kansas City dismantled the Denver Broncos 31-10 with a Super Bowl MVP running back stealing the show.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
He had already impressed with his pace bowling, dismissing Root in his first over in Test cricket, then the way he dismantled the England attack on Friday was thrilling and audacious.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
I dismantled my sleeping nest to repurpose its branches and hewed off additional ones from nearby trees.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
“The same time we’re talking about security partnerships, we’re seeing a dismantling of the judicial tools to fight crime,” she added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
The attacks led to the war in Afghanistan, which lasted for 20 years after the invasion’s initial success in dismantling al-Qaida and removing the Taliban government.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at age 80, made a career out of building illusions she delighted in dismantling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Zhu became known for his ardent anti-corruption drive, controversial dismantling of inefficient state-owned firms and integration of China with the global economy.
From Barron's ● Aug. 18, 2026
He’d had a very precise, clear-cut plan; now, as usual, Koffi was dismantling it.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
