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
Mangione's attorneys attempted to pick apart Pennsylvania police's handling of their initial arrest of Mangione, challenging their warrantless search of the murder suspect's backpack and a delay in being read his Miranda rights.
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Adam Sabes , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Their interracial, interfaith relationship has been publicly picked apart, with white Christian nationalists and fringe conservatives denigrating Usha Vance's faith and her Indian American heritage.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Matthew Stafford threw for 273 yards and picked apart the Buccaneers, completing 25 of his 35 passes, to add momentum to his Most Valuable Player candidacy and continue the best Rams' start to a season since 2018.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Nov. 2025
Irimpen’s research at Tulane helps pick apart these cascades.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick apart
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Adam Sabes , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 13 Dec. 2025
Their interracial, interfaith relationship has been publicly picked apart, with white Christian nationalists and fringe conservatives denigrating Usha Vance's faith and her Indian American heritage.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
Matthew Stafford threw for 273 yards and picked apart the Buccaneers, completing 25 of his 35 passes, to add momentum to his Most Valuable Player candidacy and continue the best Rams' start to a season since 2018.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 24 Nov. 2025
Irimpen’s research at Tulane helps pick apart these cascades.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick apart
Cite this Entry
“Pick apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20apart. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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