eviscerate
/ɪˈvɪsəreɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈvɪsəreɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈvi-sə-ˌrāt/ (ame, mw)
eviscerate — verb
- evisceratepresent simple I / you / we / they
- eviscerateshe / she / it
- evisceratedpast simple
- eviscerating-ing form
1. to leave a plan, system, or idea with almost none of the force or value that mad
to leave a plan, system, or idea with almost none of the force or value that made it useful before.
The budget cuts eviscerated the library program before it reached rural schools.
formal use: eviscerate + public program
Critics said the new law would eviscerate worker protections across the industry.
common object: eviscerate protections or rights
By selling the local newsroom, the company eviscerated its public service role.
Repeated edits eviscerated Min's speech until only safe, dull lines remained.
The scandal eviscerated trust in the charity within a single week.
- gut
more vivid and often more informal, especially in news writing
- strip
more neutral, often focuses on taking away one layer or protection
- hollow out
suggests removing the useful inside while leaving the outer form
- weaken
milder because the thing may still keep more of its original power
- strengthen
to make something more effective or powerful
- preserve
to keep the original force or value intact
文法句型
eviscerate + law/policy/institution
eviscerate + abstract noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in formal writing about laws, budgets, institutions, and public debate. The object usually still exists, but it has lost the substance or power that made it effective.
常見錯誤
2. to cut open a dead person or animal and take out the organs inside.
to cut open a dead person or animal and take out the organs inside.
The cook eviscerated the trout beside the river before packing it in ice.
eviscerate + animal before cooking
After the crash, doctors eviscerated the body to check the damaged organs.
formal use in an examination of a dead body
The hunter eviscerated the deer before carrying the meat back to camp.
At the market, Sana watched a worker eviscerate the squid in seconds.
- gut
the most common everyday verb, especially for fish or game
- disembowel
stronger and more violent, often used in crime or war contexts
- clean
plain cooking verb for preparing fish or birds
文法句型
eviscerate + body/animal
eviscerate + object + before cooking or examination
用法筆記
Usually refers to cutting open a dead body or animal and removing the organs inside. In ordinary conversation, speakers often choose simpler verbs such as gut or clean instead.
常見錯誤
3. to surgically remove a body organ from a living patient, or to clear out what is
to surgically remove a body organ from a living patient, or to clear out what is inside an organ.
The surgeon had to eviscerate the damaged eye to stop the infection.
medical use: eviscerate + organ
Doctors eviscerated the bowel after the wound cut off blood flow.
In the emergency room, the team eviscerated the infected eye and cleaned the socket.
The damaged eye was eviscerated after medicine failed to control the pain.
文法句型
eviscerate + organ
be eviscerated + during surgery
用法筆記
Used in specialist medical writing, especially for operations on organs such as the eye. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about surgery on a living patient, not cutting open a dead body or animal.