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
Discourse about the film has run the gamut, dissecting everything from its breakout leads to its low-budget ingenuity.
—
Olivia Tauber, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
The seemingly throwaway reference is actually the result of years spent dissecting Dion's every move with the dedication of a method actor preparing to portray a historical figure.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Not just beat reporters, mind you, but fan sites, Substacks, podcasts and YouTube channels, all of which spend eight months dissecting every name at every position — a media climate befitting modern college football.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Teams spent several months scouting, interviewing, dissecting each player’s physical skills and character before the draft.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Lenee has been getting the full internet treatment ever since Hunter became one of the biggest stars in college football, with fans dissecting her every move.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Someone more invested in dissecting the nuances of masculinity might disagree.
—Judy Berman, Time, 21 Apr. 2026
Instead of dissecting another unicorn performance from Jokic, the discussion focused on how Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert won the one-on-one matchup.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Since that June 2025 announcement, readers have been dissecting every new piece of information about the two-day show leading up to its opening day this Friday.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Olivia Tauber, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
The seemingly throwaway reference is actually the result of years spent dissecting Dion's every move with the dedication of a method actor preparing to portray a historical figure.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Not just beat reporters, mind you, but fan sites, Substacks, podcasts and YouTube channels, all of which spend eight months dissecting every name at every position — a media climate befitting modern college football.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Teams spent several months scouting, interviewing, dissecting each player’s physical skills and character before the draft.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Lenee has been getting the full internet treatment ever since Hunter became one of the biggest stars in college football, with fans dissecting her every move.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Someone more invested in dissecting the nuances of masculinity might disagree.
—Judy Berman, Time, 21 Apr. 2026
Instead of dissecting another unicorn performance from Jokic, the discussion focused on how Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert won the one-on-one matchup.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026
Since that June 2025 announcement, readers have been dissecting every new piece of information about the two-day show leading up to its opening day this Friday.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissecting
Verb
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People who are analyzing this show are saying Wonder Man is a metaphor for anxiety.—
Carita Rizzo,
Deadline,
14 June 2026
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To that end, several groups of scientists have created various meteor camera networks, each distributed geographically across large areas and with a central clearing house for collecting and analyzing the data.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Sports features prominently across day one, with JioStar sports and live experiences CEO Ishan Chatterjee examining sport as a platform for fandom, AI and commerce, followed by ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta on cricket’s global expansion and La Liga president Javier Tebas on fan engagement and enforcement.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 June 2026
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Federal investigators have arrived at Butler Memorial Airport to begin examining the plane crash that killed 12 people Sunday morning.—
Neil Nakahodo,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dissecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissecting. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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