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
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.
Many of singer D4vd’s friends in the Los Angeles music scene had come to believe that Celeste Rivas Hernandez was his 19-year-old girlfriend, long before the 15-year-old’s body was found dismembered in the trunk of his Tesla, which had been abandoned in the Hollywood hills a month earlier. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 Law enforcement found Starren’s body dismembered and hidden in a Woodbury storage unit. Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 14 Sep. 2025 Walshe is accused of killing and dismembering his wife, Ana, in January 2023. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025 Tylee's remains were dismembered and so badly burned that her cause of death couldn't be determined, according to Business Insider. Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dismember

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dismember.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dismember. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

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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