pick apart
phrasal verb
picked apart; picking apart; picks apart
chiefly US
: to say all of the things that are bad or wrong about (someone or something) : to criticize (a person or thing) in a very detailed and usually unkind way
You can expect political analysts to pick apart the governor's speech.
The film's critics picked his performance apart.
Examples of pick apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But falsehood, corruption, and delusions do not go so gently; they must be unravelled, picked apart.
—
Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Herbert picked apart the Broncos’ secondary after standout cornerback Pat Surtain II suffered a concussion on the Chargers’ first offensive play, an incomplete pass to McConkey.
—Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 13 Oct. 2024
Edge: Chargers When Chargers run Chargers running back JK Dobbins picked apart struggling teams to start the season but has now run into a wall.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2024
The Rams are missing a ton of pieces and their secondary is getting picked apart.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pick apart 
Parul Sehgal, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
Herbert picked apart the Broncos’ secondary after standout cornerback Pat Surtain II suffered a concussion on the Chargers’ first offensive play, an incomplete pass to McConkey.
—Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 13 Oct. 2024
Edge: Chargers When Chargers run Chargers running back JK Dobbins picked apart struggling teams to start the season but has now run into a wall.
—Ryan McFadden, The Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2024
The Rams are missing a ton of pieces and their secondary is getting picked apart.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pick apart
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pick apart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pick apart
Cite this Entry
“Pick apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20apart. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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