dismember

verb

dis·​mem·​ber (ˌ)dis-ˈmem-bər 

dismembered; dismembering (ˌ)dis-ˈmem-b(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of

2

: to break up or tear into pieces

dismemberment

(ˌ)dis-ˈmem-bər-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• break
• break up
• bust
• disintegrate
• disrupt
• fracture
• fragment
• rive

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

Victims were sometimes shot on site or bludgeoned to death and dismembered. —arkansasonline.com, 16 Mar. 2025

The body of a 16-year-old mom who was killed and dismembered will likely never be recovered because her body was left in a dumpster that has since been taken to an incinerator, Florida authorities said. —Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2025

In 2018, dissident Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered and dismembered. —Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025

Police in Florida believe a 16-year-old girl was beaten, killed and dismembered after being lured to meet 35-year-old man through social media. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for dismember

• december
• nonmember
• november
• remember
• september
• ember
• member

Kids Definition

dismember

verb

dis·​mem·​ber (ˈ)dis-ˈmem-bər 

dismembered; dismembering -b(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to cut off or separate the limbs or parts of

2

: to break up or tear into pieces

dismemberment

-bər-mənt 

noun

Medical Definition

dismember

transitive verb

dis·​mem·​ber (ˈ)dis-ˈmem-bər 

dismembered; dismembering -b(ə-)riŋ 

: to cut off or disjoin the limbs, members, or parts of

dismemberment

-bər-mənt 

noun