pick apart
phrasal verb
picked apart; picking apart; picks apart
chiefly US
: to say all of the things that are bad or wrong about (someone or something) : to criticize (a person or thing) in a very detailed and usually unkind way
You can expect political analysts to pick apart the governor's speech.
The film's critics picked his performance apart.
Examples of pick apart in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But with the hits came harsh scrutiny: Tabloids picked apart everything from her thin frame to her on-off romance with Jack Nicholson, 87, a man 33 years her senior.
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Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 2 July 2024
As analysts continue to pick apart the few pieces of data in Alnylam’s topline announcement, all eyes will be on the full presentation later this year.
—Elaine Chen Reprints, STAT, 25 June 2024
The comedian apology is a much mocked form, one that tends to get picked apart and invite much criticism.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
Doncic made sure the only conversation after Game 4 would be about his dominant showing on offense as Doncic picked apart the Boston defense all night.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for pick apart 
Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 2 July 2024
As analysts continue to pick apart the few pieces of data in Alnylam’s topline announcement, all eyes will be on the full presentation later this year.
—Elaine Chen Reprints, STAT, 25 June 2024
The comedian apology is a much mocked form, one that tends to get picked apart and invite much criticism.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
Doncic made sure the only conversation after Game 4 would be about his dominant showing on offense as Doncic picked apart the Boston defense all night.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for pick apart
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pick apart.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pick apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20apart. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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