dismantle

[ dis-man-tl ]

verb (used with object)

, dis·man·tled, dis·man·tling.

1. to deprive or strip of apparatus, furniture, equipment, defenses, etc.:

   to dismantle a ship; to dismantle a fortress.

2. to disassemble or pull down; take apart:

   They dismantled the machine and shipped it in pieces.

3. to divest of dress, covering, etc.:

   The wind dismantled the trees of their leaves.

dismantle

/ dɪsˈmæntəl /

verb

1. to take apart
2. to demolish or raze
3. to strip of covering

Derived Forms

• disˈmantler, noun
• disˈmantlement, noun

Other Words From

• dis·mantle·ment noun
• dis·mantler noun
• undis·mantled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismantle¹

From the Middle French word desmanteler, dating back to 1570–80. See dis- ¹, mantle

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismantle¹

C17: from Old French desmanteler to remove a cloak from; see mantle

Example Sentences

Prepared not just to dismantle inequitable systems but to rebuild them.

From Fortune

This language also suggests that dismantling racism doesn’t require confronting those privileged by racism.

From MIT Technology Review

A new, sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing is taking hold, and what remain of Hong Kong’s formerly robust liberties are being systematically dismantled.

From Quartz

In a scathing decision, the judge dismantled every argument Uber raised in its defense, including that the court should delay making a decision until voters weigh in on the ballot measure.

From Voice of San Diego

It’s just that City pretty comprehensively dismantled Madrid on the road in the first leg, and it did it with a not-super-high-possession approach.

From FiveThirtyEight

But it will take more than superficial solidarity to dismantle those structures and the ideologies that birthed them.

From The Daily Beast

Today, though, professional and amateur historians can build counter-narratives that are hard to dismantle.

From The Daily Beast

This missive could just be read as your standard step-around; an attempt to dismantle a potential PR bomb before it detonates.

From The Daily Beast

I used to dismantle a calculator to understand how it works.

From The Daily Beast

"Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle and ultimately destroy ISIL and what it stands for," he said.

From The Daily Beast

No nails or metal screws are employed, nothing but the hand is required to dismantle or reconstruct the case.

From Project Gutenberg

Next day I found quite a squad of light-duty men, and sent 'em to dismantle and bring down Chaucer's hut.

From Project Gutenberg

I could dismantle it, and trust to luck that Wolf illogic didn't include a tamper mechanism.

From Project Gutenberg

The Babisa dismantle their huts and carry off the thatch to their gardens, where they live till harvest is over.

From Project Gutenberg

He promised also to dismantle the distant forts, and immediately to call in the foreign troops for the defence of the capital.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• break up
• demolish
• destroy
• disassemble
• raze
• undo
• wreck