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

The leading detectives on the case said they remained puzzled as to why Mosquera took the dismembered bodies to Bristol.

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David McColl, 50, has previously appeared in court charged with killing and dismembering Mr Wright before dumping his body parts in Glasgow and Loch Lomond.

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A man accused of murder is alleged to have dumped dismembered body parts in Glasgow and Loch Lomond.

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Or was he referring to Khashoggi, who was killed and dismembered inside Istanbul’s Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct.

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Lucima, who served a jail term in 2021 for helping to dismember a musician, was killed by a single bullet to the chest as he opened his front door in Kensington last year.

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Related Words

• dismantle 
• maim 
• mutilate 
• sever 
• sunder