Synonyms of dissect

dissect

verb

dī-ˈsekt 

as in to analyze

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• analyze
• examine
• assess
• investigate
• diagnose
• evaluate
• cut
• deconstruct
• divide
• anatomize
• inspect
• scrutinize
• assay
• break down
• classify
• categorize
• tabulate
• codify
• subdivide
• arrange
• enumerate
• catalog
• index
• reduce
• order
• sort
• segment
• separate
• schematize
• catalogue
• diagram
• assort

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• integrate
• synthesize
• consolidate
• aggregate
• assimilate
• unify
• coalesce
• conglomerate
• amalgamate
• agglomerate

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

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of dissect

Massive voter fraud in Pennsylvania, debunked: Report Reason Magazine reporter Eric Boehm dissects how voters’ idea of election fraud has spread. —The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024

Just as the history of the Rumble in the Jungle began a decade before the fight itself, what Ali did in the early hours of the morning in a soccer stadium in Zaire is still being discussed and dissected and eulogized in 2024. —Jamie Barton, CNN, 30 Oct. 2024

Instead of digesting the fur and bones, barn owls cough up pellets, which scientists can dissect to learn more about food webs. —Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024

Accounts like Deux Moi spread celebrity gossip, while fan accounts and Reddit threads have become places for people to dissect and discuss. —Meg Walters, Glamour, 20 Nov. 2024