pick apart
phrasal verb
picked apart; picking apart; picks apart
chiefly US
: to say all of the things that are bad or wrong about (someone or something) : to criticize (a person or thing) in a very detailed and usually unkind way
You can expect political analysts to pick apart the governor's speech.
The film's critics picked his performance apart.
Examples of pick apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Chiefs will be picked apart again in free agency, possibly losing offensive lineman Tre Smith and others.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
The culture of body shaming, unrealistic beauty standards, and the obsessive focus on appearance is hugely heightened for celebrities: Adele’s body was targeted in the press for years, while Selena’s physique is regularly being picked apart on social media and in comment sections.
—Alex Light, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2025
The difference with Van de Ven is that this is not the first time in his career where he has been picked apart.
—Jay Harris, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Madsen was able to pick apart Penn State’s pass defense much of the game, taking advantage of a unit that relies heavily on quarterback pressure.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick apart
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Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2025
The culture of body shaming, unrealistic beauty standards, and the obsessive focus on appearance is hugely heightened for celebrities: Adele’s body was targeted in the press for years, while Selena’s physique is regularly being picked apart on social media and in comment sections.
—Alex Light, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2025
The difference with Van de Ven is that this is not the first time in his career where he has been picked apart.
—Jay Harris, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Madsen was able to pick apart Penn State’s pass defense much of the game, taking advantage of a unit that relies heavily on quarterback pressure.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick apart
Cite this Entry
“Pick apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20apart. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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