dismember

verb

dis·​mem·​ber (ˌ)dis-ˈmem-bər How to pronounce dismember (audio)
dismembered; dismembering (ˌ)dis-ˈmem-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce dismember (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of
2
: to break up or tear into pieces
dismemberment noun

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 Authorities initially had little information to go on because the body was dismembered, investigators told Bay Area news station KTVU. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2023 Police said the body had been decapitated and dismembered. Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023 Tylee's manner of death remains unknown, as her body was dismembered, and remains were burned before she was buried, prosecutors revealed during the trial. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 17 Aug. 2023 Fritsch admitted to killing and dismembering Taylor and distributing her body in different garbage collection areas, Dumont said. Fzarkhin, oregonlive, 11 Aug. 2023 Many shared the same searing memories of seeing the small corpses of children thrown across the wreckage, dismembered beyond recognition. Rebecca Tan and Cape Diamond, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2023 His international standing took a sharp dive in 2018 after a Saudi hit squad killed and dismembered the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul. Ben Hubbard, New York Times, 10 June 2023 Investigators allege Lowe, 78, fatally shot Fontes in the head, dismembered her body at their apartment in Delray Beach and placed the remains in suitcases and a tote-like bag before discarding them at their local beach, Liberta said. Aya Elamroussi, CNN, 4 Aug. 2023 Tylee had been dismembered and burned; J.J. was asphyxiated and wrapped in plastic and bound by duct tape. Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 1 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dismember.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dismembren, from Anglo-French desmembrer, from des- dis- + membre member

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dismember was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near dismember

Cite this Entry

“Dismember.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismember. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

dismember

verb
dis·​mem·​ber (ˈ)dis-ˈmem-bər How to pronounce dismember (audio)
dismembered; dismembering -b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce dismember (audio)
1
: to cut off or separate the limbs or parts of
2
: to break up or tear into pieces
dismemberment noun

Medical Definition

dismember

transitive verb
dis·​mem·​ber (ˈ)dis-ˈmem-bər How to pronounce dismember (audio)
dismembered; dismembering -b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce dismember (audio)
: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of
dismemberment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dismember

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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