dismember

1 of 2

verb

dis·​mem·​ber (ˌ)dis-ˈmem-bər 

dismembered; dismembering (ˌ)dis-ˈmem-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of

2

: to break up or tear into pieces

dismemberment

(ˌ)dis-ˈmem-bər-mənt 

noun

dismemberment

2 of 2

noun

dis·​mem·​ber·​ment də̇ˈsmembə(r)mənt 

plural -s

: the act of dismembering or the state of being dismembered : division into separate parts or units : separation, mutilation

the dismemberment of great estates

—F. B. Millett

the dismemberment of the Roman Empire

—Encyclopedia Americana

investigation revealed the dismemberment of the body after death

Synonyms of dismember

Verb

• disrupt
• break
• destroy

Examples of dismember in a Sentence

Verb

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

Verb

Two of Hernandez’s fingers, including one with Burke’s name tattooed on it, had been dismembered, when she was found, according to prosecutors. — Krystie Lee Yandoli, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026

The children are dismembered and penetrated, flayed alive, disemboweled, and their intestines set alight. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026

Jason thus dismembers Cassidy’s corpse, wraps his bits up in tin foil, and stores them away in the freezer. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026

The trial of Brandon Holbrook Prosecutors would argue Holbrook shot Joe Shymanski to death in Joe's Maryland driveway, then drove his body back to Pennsylvania, dismembering him and disposing of his remains. — Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dismember

• crewmember
• december
• nonmember
• november
• remember
• september
• ember
• member

Kids 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

dismemberment

-bər-mənt 

noun

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

dismemberment

-bər-mənt 

noun