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.

He made around $2 billion in cattle transactions to build his “ghost herd,” according to bank records filed in Texas federal bankruptcy court, which is trying to pick apart the web of alleged fraud.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 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

And having been one myself not very long ago, I was already well aware of people’s inclination to relentlessly pick apart the actions of teenage girls.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2025

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

From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken

pick apart

Example Sentences

Related Words