Definition

The act of cutting or separating the limbs from a body or the state of being cut apart.

Example

The horror movie included a scene of dismemberment that shocked the audience.

Conversation

Did you hear about the movie that had a scene of dismemberment?

Yeah, I heard it was really graphic!

I can't believe they included such a shocking moment of dismemberment.

Right? It definitely made the film more intense.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dismemberment is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "member" (from Latin "membrum", meaning limb or part). The suffix "-ment" (meaning the action or result of) indicates the process or state of being. Thus, dismemberment refers to the action of taking apart or separating limbs or parts from a body.

Memory Tip

Think of 'taking apart' ('dis-') the 'limbs' ('member') of a body, which helps you remember that dismemberment means the act of separating limbs.

Visually Confused Words