eviscerate

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitivetechnicalmedical

   To remove the inner organs from a body in surgery, butchery, or anatomy.

   Grammar: Takes an object: eviscerate the specimen. It is literal and clinical, not used for mild injury.

   Patterns

   • eviscerate an animal
   • eviscerate a body
   • be eviscerated

   In the lab, students learned how to eviscerate a fish before examining it.

   The procedure can eviscerate the abdomen if tissue gives way after surgery.

2. 2verbtransitiveformal

   To remove or destroy the essential part of something, leaving it weak or empty.

   Grammar: Takes an object: eviscerate a law. It suggests cutting out the core, not merely criticizing.

   Patterns

   • eviscerate an argument
   • eviscerate a law
   • eviscerate a program

   The review eviscerated the study for hiding its weakest data.

   Budget cuts could eviscerate rural clinics already short of staff.

   A single loophole can eviscerate an otherwise strong privacy law.

Word forms

Common combinations

eviscerate an argument

Her reply eviscerated the claim point by point.

eviscerate a law/policy

The amendment may eviscerate the clean-air policy.

eviscerate public services

Critics said the plan would eviscerate public services.

surgically eviscerate

The passage describes how predators eviscerate prey.

Synonyms and how they differ

gut

More direct and common; eviscerate is more formal and can sound clinical.

ravage

Emphasizes widespread damage, while eviscerate emphasizes loss of core substance.

demolish

Best for defeating an argument completely; eviscerate suggests cutting out its vital parts.

disembowel

Strongly literal and graphic; eviscerate can be literal or figurative.

Opposites

Word family

evisceration noun

The act or result of removing inner organs or essential force.

Commonly confused: eviscerate or evacuate?

Practice

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