pick apart

VERB

censure

Synonyms

STRONGEST

admonish berate castigate chastise chide denounce discipline rebuff rebuke reprimand reproach scold

STRONG

abuse animadvert asperse attack backbite blame cavil contemn denigrate deprecate disapprove disparage impugn incriminate judge knock lecture ostracize remonstrate reprehend reprove upbraid

WEAK

carp at cut up exprobate find fault with get after look askance pull apart read out take to task tear apart tell off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve commend compliment flatter forgive laud praise

STRONG

agree cherish defend endorse protect sanction

WEAK

allow permit

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We have a treasure chest in our hands now that we can pick apart and explore," Briner says.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

You’ll watch Rex Ryan pick apart your decisions and mutter to yourself: Rex Ryan?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

The pair who still insisted they were the Turenges spent a day in separate interrogation rooms, where detectives tried to pick apart their story.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025

There can be a very human temptation to pick apart magical beliefs, a tendency that sets in at some point in childhood — or perhaps that marks the end of childhood.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2024

I’m not about to give my friends more juicy tidbits to pick apart in private messages.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

pick apart

Example Sentences

Related Words