disembowel

verb

dis·​em·​bow·​el ˌdis-əm-ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

disemboweled; disemboweling; disembowels

transitive verb

1

: to take out the bowels of : eviscerate

also : to slash or tear the abdomen so that some or all of the internal organs protrude

2

: to remove the substance of

a program disemboweled by spending cuts

disembowelment

ˌdis-əm-ˈbau̇(-ə)l-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• clean
• draw
• eviscerate
• gut

Examples of disembowel in a Sentence

The fierce cat uses its claws to disembowel its prey.

ancient Roman prophets would disembowel animals in order to read the future from their entrails

Recent Examples on the Web

But by the end of season three, the first Noir would meet his end, being disemboweled by Homelander for failing to tell his leader and friend that Soldier Boy was the Seven’s leader’s father. —Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 July 2024

Mann did omit the fact that de Portago was also disemboweled. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2024

Tew died in the Red Sea in September 1695, when he was disemboweled by a cannonball. —Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024

Once the chalky fungal plug is ripped apart, the infected and disemboweled cicada flies around, raining down fluffy, brown spores. —Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 13 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1618, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

disembowel

verb

dis·​em·​bow·​el ˌdis-əm-ˈbau̇(-ə)l 

disemboweled or disembowelled; disemboweling or disembowelling

: to take out the bowels of

disembowelment

-mənt 

noun