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
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
F. B. Millettthe dismemberment of the Roman Empire—Encyclopedia Americana
Encyclopedia Americanainvestigation revealed the dismemberment of the body after death
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
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
Prosecutors allege Burke later bought a shovel, chainsaws, a body bag, and a blue inflatable pool under a fake name online and used the items to dismember Rivas in his garage.
—
Nancy Dillon,
VIBE.com,
17 June 2026
Angel Guzman, 31, of Los Angeles, was among the four members of the gang MS-13 convicted of murdering three people, one of whom was kidnapped, strangled, attacked with machetes and dismembered, in the Angeles National Forest, federal authorities said.
—
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dismember
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.
Verb
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
Prosecutors allege Burke later bought a shovel, chainsaws, a body bag, and a blue inflatable pool under a fake name online and used the items to dismember Rivas in his garage.
—
Nancy Dillon,
VIBE.com,
17 June 2026
Angel Guzman, 31, of Los Angeles, was among the four members of the gang MS-13 convicted of murdering three people, one of whom was kidnapped, strangled, attacked with machetes and dismembered, in the Angeles National Forest, federal authorities said.
—
Arkansas Online,
7 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 28 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
