as in analyzing
to identify and examine the basic elements or parts of (something) especially for discovering interrelationships
let's dissect the plot of this thriller to see what makes it thrilling
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Recent Examples of dissecting
The Miami Herald spent more than two years dissecting the 2022 boat crash that killed 17-year-old Luciana ‘Lucy’ Fernandez and critically injured Katerina ‘Katy’ Puig.
—
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Mbeumo misplaces a pass as United attack and his family groan before dissecting the move.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The first six months are spent dissecting every detail.
—Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
At the time, Vogue published several articles dissecting the ethics of the trend, even if the fur worn was vintage or faux.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Bonitto said he’s made a habit of dissecting the cadences of opposing quarterbacks on film and studying them throughout the week.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Similar reasoning can be applied when dissecting the playing time uptick veteran wideout David Moore saw Sunday; Moore played 56 snaps Sunday (97%), which is more than every other offensive player who is not a lineman or who doesn’t have the last name Young.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
From TikTok clips to Instagram reels and YouTube, fans are dissecting every romantic entanglement in the show.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Give folks a taste of a team capable of dissecting a top defense, all systems go, for a type of tantalizing 27-21 victory.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Mbeumo misplaces a pass as United attack and his family groan before dissecting the move.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
The first six months are spent dissecting every detail.
—Alma Rota, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
At the time, Vogue published several articles dissecting the ethics of the trend, even if the fur worn was vintage or faux.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Bonitto said he’s made a habit of dissecting the cadences of opposing quarterbacks on film and studying them throughout the week.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Similar reasoning can be applied when dissecting the playing time uptick veteran wideout David Moore saw Sunday; Moore played 56 snaps Sunday (97%), which is more than every other offensive player who is not a lineman or who doesn’t have the last name Young.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
From TikTok clips to Instagram reels and YouTube, fans are dissecting every romantic entanglement in the show.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Give folks a taste of a team capable of dissecting a top defense, all systems go, for a type of tantalizing 27-21 victory.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissecting
Verb
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Although further studies – such as carbon dating – are needed to determine its exact age, the team estimated the crater’s formation period by analyzing its geological structure and the extent of erosion.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Oct. 2025
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The researchers found the pathogens — Salmonella enterica and Borrelia recurrentis, bacteria that cause paratyphoid fever and relapsing fever, respectively — by analyzing teeth from the fallen soldiers who were found in a mass grave uncovered in 2001 in Vilnius, Lithuania.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The journalist Beth Macy, who in her previous books chronicled the widening fissures in American society by examining the opioid crisis and the aftereffects of globalization, grew up there.—
Alex Kotlowitz,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
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More than 100 investigators have been involved in the manhunt, and authorities were able to track down the individuals after analyzing more than 150 DNA samples and examining several items the group left behind, such as gloves, a helmet and high-vis jackets left at the scene.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dissecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissecting. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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