dismember
Americanverb (used with object)
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to deprive of limbs; divide limb from limb.
The ogre dismembered his victims before he ate them.
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to divide into parts; cut to pieces; mutilate.
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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.
verb
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to remove the limbs or members of
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to cut to pieces
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to divide or partition (something, such as an empire)
Other Word Forms
- dismemberer noun
- dismemberment noun
- nondismemberment noun
Etymology
Origin of dismember
1250–1300; Middle English dismembren < Anglo-French, Old French desmembrer, equivalent to des- dis- 1 + -membrer, verbal derivative of membre member
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.
He’s seen ants work as a team to dismember prey in minutes.
From National Geographic • Jan. 22, 2024
Although their store is closed two days a week, it’s become their second home — one they don’t have to unpack and dismember at the end of the afternoon.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2022
Mr. Erdogan said the order to dismember Mr. Khashoggi came from the “highest levels” of the Saudi government, but avoided accusing the prince directly.
From New York Times • Jun. 22, 2022
First, this case was the last gasp for the CFPB’s opponents, who had hoped to dismember it through the courts.
From Washington Post • Jun. 29, 2020
I’m pretty sure the only thing you could dismember is a sandwich.”
From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson
Definitions 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.
