dissect

Definition of dissectnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word dissect distinct from other similar verbs?

The words analyze and break down are common synonyms of dissect. While all three words mean "to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements," dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.

commentators dissected every word of the speech

When might analyze be a better fit than dissect?

The words analyze and dissect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships.

analyzed the collected data

When can break down be used instead of dissect?

The meanings of break down and dissect largely overlap; however, break down implies a reducing to simpler parts or divisions.

break down the budget

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dissect Another record might have found the ballad in that process, dissecting, with Deer Tick’s gift for barstool poetry, their relationship with the strange, looming beast that is age. Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026 In the dark comedy Maddie’s Secret, Early dissects the odd eroticism of online food content. Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026 In the month since her Netflix debut, viewers have dissected everything about the now 21-year-old Shirilla, who is currently serving two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life in prison—her first parole hearing is scheduled for September 2037. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 18 June 2026 Barthes was dissecting professional wrestling, with its heroes and heels, its obvious theater. Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dissect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dissect
Verb
  • Cisco has built and is refining an AI tool for investor relations that analyzes its financial history alongside competitors’ earnings calls and can anticipate likely questions from specific analysts.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 July 2026
  • In the new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed electronic health records from 2001 to 2023 for more than 700,000 pairs of mothers and children in Hong Kong.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Link to earlier discovery The new findings come less than a year after Perseverance examined a rock called Cheyava Falls, which scientists described as one of the most intriguing samples collected on Mars.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 June 2026
  • Take a couple of minutes to examine one testicle at a time.
    Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 25 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dissect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dissect. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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