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Definitions

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.

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

Russell, especially in the opening half, looked back to his old self as he helped pick apart England's defence with his wide passing game.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2025

He could pick apart an argument you made with one or two incisive slashes of history, facts, humor or logic, mostly all four put together in ways you’d never heard before.

From Salon • Dec. 31, 2024

But I couldn’t pick apart exactly what was pulsing through me.

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.