eviscerate

American  

[ih-vis-uh-reyt, ih-vis-er-it, -uh-reyt] / ɪˈvɪs əˌreɪt, ɪˈvɪs ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

eviscerated, eviscerating

1. to remove the entrails from; disembowel.

   to eviscerate a chicken.

2. to deprive of vital or essential parts.

   The censors eviscerated the book to make it inoffensive to the leaders of the party.

3. Surgery. to remove the contents of (a body organ).

---

eviscerate British  

/ ɪˈvɪsəˌreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to remove the internal organs of; disembowel

2. (tr) to deprive of meaning or significance

3. (tr) surgery to remove the contents of (the eyeball or other organ)

4. (intr) surgery (of the viscera) to protrude through a weakened abdominal incision after an operation

---

adjective

1. having been disembowelled

Other Word Forms

• evisceration noun
• eviscerator noun

Etymology

Origin of eviscerate

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin ēviscerātus, past participle of ēviscerāre “to deprive of entrails, tear to pieces,” equivalent to ē- e- ¹ + viscer(a) viscera + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

Eviscerate is not a pretty word. To eviscerate can mean to remove the entrails of a creature. On the Discovery Channel you can watch a vulture eviscerate or take out the guts of a dead animal. The word eviscerate comes from the Latin eviscerare, meaning "to disembowel." It's not strictly used in such a gruesome sense though. Sure, you can eviscerate a chicken by gutting its insides, but eviscerate can also be used to describe when you deprive something of its most important quality. If you take away the disco ball, it could eviscerate the spirit of your dance party.

Example Sentences

Among the ironies: He got nothing of value on the cellphone that so enraged the sheriff, and prosecutors never called him to testify at trial, knowing the defense was likely to eviscerate him.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2025

He turns around and uses that wealth and power in order to eviscerate the very thing that helped create him.

From Slate • Aug. 1, 2025

Corker noted the NCAA’s contention that allowing so-called NIL collectives to offer deals to recruits would eviscerate the difference between college athletics and professional sports.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024

Melt caves will eviscerate more and more glaciers—creating lakes that could release devastating floods.

From National Geographic • Jan. 10, 2024

He didn’t know anyone who could eviscerate someone with words quite like Aunt Hila.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny