dismember

[dis-mem-ber]

verb (used with object)

1. to deprive of limbs; divide limb from limb.

   The ogre dismembered his victims before he ate them.

2. to divide into parts; cut to pieces; mutilate.

3. to reduce, reorganize, or discontinue the services or parts of (a company, government agency, etc.).

   Our business was dismembered by the conglomerate that bought it.

dismember

/ dɪsˈmɛmbə /

verb

1. to remove the limbs or members of

2. to cut to pieces

3. to divide or partition (something, such as an empire)

Other Word Forms

• dismemberer noun
• dismemberment noun
• nondismemberment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dismember¹

1250–1300; Middle English dismembren < Anglo-French, Old French desmembrer, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + -membrer, verbal derivative of membre member

Example Sentences

Inuit histories reported people finding dismembered bodies and fragments of china on King William Island.

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The Saudi journalist was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents inside an Istanbul embassy in 2018.

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His dismembered body has never been found and Prince Mohammed was never among those sanctioned by Washington.

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Shealy told Salon that people have slashed her tires, shot out the windows of her home and thrown images of dismembered fetuses at her over her votes against strict abortion bans.

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The vile births and dismembered bodies are a realization of the evil gestating within Derry.

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Related Words

• dismantle 
• maim 
• mutilate 
• sever 
• sunder