anatomize

[ uh-nat-uh-mahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, a·nat·o·mized, a·nat·o·miz·ing.

1. to cut apart (an animal or plant) to show or examine the position, structure, and relation of the parts; display the anatomy of; dissect.
2. to examine in great detail; analyze minutely:

   The couple anatomized their new neighbor.

anatomize

/ əˈnætəˌmaɪz /

verb

1. to dissect (an animal or plant)
2. to examine in minute detail

Derived Forms

• aˈnatoˌmizer, noun
• aˌnatomiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• a·nato·miza·ble adjective
• a·nato·mi·zation noun
• a·nato·mizer noun
• una·nato·miza·ble adjective
• una·nato·mized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anatomize¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French anatomiser or < Medieval Latin anatomizāre. See anatomy, -ize

Example Sentences

LuPone has two big numbers, both of which anatomize the ambivalence of married life: “The Little Things You Do Together” in the first act and “The Ladies Who Lunch” in the second.

From Los Angeles Times

Over the last quarter-century, the book as physical organism has been increasingly anatomized, and there has been no better medium for displaying anatomists’ findings than the book itself.

From New York Times

Though sartorial elegance is an instinct, as Mr. Cerruti suggested, it can be anatomized.

From New York Times

The ambivalence of marriage is preserved in all its volatile disorder, but the social conditions, which Bergman patiently anatomizes in his version, are left vague.

From Los Angeles Times

She has always had plenty to say about that, but now she is more interested in anatomizing all the forces that carved her into the woman she is today.

From Los Angeles Times