dismember
verb
dis·mem·ber
(ˌ)dis-ˈmem-bər 
dismembered; dismembering
(ˌ)dis-ˈmem-b(ə-)riŋ
1
: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of
2
: to break up or tear into pieces
Examples of dismember in a Sentence
The victims' bodies had been dismembered and buried in the basement.
quickly dismembered the old toolshed and hauled it off to the dump
Recent Examples on the Web
For several months, investigators alleged that Herrling kept the scheme going by moving Wilding's body to her apartment and dismembering it, although his remains were never found (investigators claimed it was disposed of in the San Francisco Bay).
—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
In 1772, barely four years before the United States declared independence, the European powers of Austria, Prussia and Russia, led respectively by Maria Theresa, Frederick II and Catherine the Great, used force and law to dismember the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
—
David Armitage,
Washington Post,
26 June 2026
After the execution, his body was first thrown into a shallow grave, but later dug up, dismembered, and his remains were dissolved in acid.
—
Emile Nuh,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Sayegh and other Arab nationalists believed that Zionism dismembered Arab unity and violated the universal norms of the post–World War II international order.
—
Adam Louis-Klein,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismember
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Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
In 1772, barely four years before the United States declared independence, the European powers of Austria, Prussia and Russia, led respectively by Maria Theresa, Frederick II and Catherine the Great, used force and law to dismember the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
—
David Armitage,
Washington Post,
26 June 2026
After the execution, his body was first thrown into a shallow grave, but later dug up, dismembered, and his remains were dissolved in acid.
—
Emile Nuh,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Sayegh and other Arab nationalists believed that Zionism dismembered Arab unity and violated the universal norms of the post–World War II international order.
—
Adam Louis-Klein,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismember
Cite this Entry
“Dismember.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismember. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dismember
verb
dis·mem·ber
(ˈ)dis-ˈmem-bər
dismembered; dismembering
-b(ə-)riŋ
1
: to cut off or separate the limbs or parts of
2
: to break up or tear into pieces
Medical Definition
dismember
transitive verb
dis·mem·ber
(ˈ)dis-ˈmem-bər
dismembered; dismembering
-b(ə-)riŋ
: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of
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