dismantle
verb
dis·man·tle
(ˌ)dis-ˈman-tᵊl 
dismantled; dismantling
(ˌ)dis-ˈmant-liŋ
-ˈman-tᵊl-
1
: to disconnect the pieces of
will have to dismantle the engine
also
: to destroy the integrity or functioning of
The program was later dismantled due to a lack of funding.
2
: to strip of dress or covering : divest
3
: to strip of furniture and equipment
dismantled the ship before scrapping it
Examples of dismantle in a Sentence
The mechanic dismantled the engine to repair it.
When will they dismantle the old bridge?
The after-school program was dismantled due to lack of funding.
He accuses them of trying to dismantle the country's legal system.
Recent Examples on the Web
Researchers have developed a process that dismantles PET plastic waste into its primary building block, terephthalic acid, to serve as a sustainable raw material.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026
But dismantling them in the name of ideological purity is not reform.
—Megan Thiele Strong, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
The federal leaders seeking to dismantle NCAR have not detailed any concerns with the quality of the work completed there or regulatory compliance, the lawsuit states.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Restaurants must dismantle roadway setups each winter, even though many businesses successfully operated year-round in the past.
—Mike Flynn, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismantle
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 16 Mar. 2026
But dismantling them in the name of ideological purity is not reform.
—Megan Thiele Strong, Chicago Tribune, 16 Mar. 2026
The federal leaders seeking to dismantle NCAR have not detailed any concerns with the quality of the work completed there or regulatory compliance, the lawsuit states.
—Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Restaurants must dismantle roadway setups each winter, even though many businesses successfully operated year-round in the past.
—Mike Flynn, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismantle
Cite this Entry
“Dismantle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismantle. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dismantle
verb
dis·man·tle
(ˈ)dis-ˈmant-ᵊl
dismantled; dismantling
-ˈmant-liŋ
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to take to pieces : take apart
dismantled the engine to repair it
2
: to strip of furniture and equipment
dismantle an office
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
