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)

Derived Forms

• disˈmemberer, noun
• disˈmemberment, noun

Other Words From

• dis·member·er noun
• dis·member·ment noun
• nondis·member·ment 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

“I could not stop the General Assembly from dismembering Nashville,” Cooper said in January, when the map was finalized.

From Washington Post

In the ensuing “Century of Humiliation,” civil war and western rapacity came close to dismembering China.

From Time

Lucke recounts one investigation in 1990 of a nurse who was found dismembered, her remains distributed among multiple trash bags.

From Time

Her explanation for dismembering and disposing of Marcos was suspiciously vague.

From The Daily Beast

Release of the report marks the end of a long process that began when Khashoggi, lured to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to pick up documents, was drugged and dismembered by Saudi agents.

From Washington Post

He told reporters how his assailants had recognized him, set upon him with knives and tried to dismember his wrists.

From The Daily Beast

The headlines were gruesome: after shooting and killing him, she had used a chain saw to dismember his body.

From The Daily Beast

It is easy to get a handle on it if you dismember your victim.

From The Daily Beast

Dismember me this animal, and return him in a basket to the base-born knave who sent him; other answer have I none!

From Project Gutenberg

Ned he gin hit to me way back yander, I dismember how long ergo, und he tole me to put it in de blu chiss, twell he ax for hit.

From Project Gutenberg

Or is it really true, as many think, that your statesmen would gladly dismember this Union?

From Project Gutenberg

No man should ever be elected President of this country who raised his hand to dismember and destroy it.

From Project Gutenberg

Often they completely dismember themselves, an action which does them no permanent injury, since they reproduce lost parts.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dismantle
• maim
• mutilate
• sever
• sunder