English

Verb

deconstruct ‎(third-person singular simple present deconstructs, present participle deconstructing, simple past and past participle deconstructed)

1. (transitive, often metaphorical) To break something down into its component parts.
2. (transitive) To analyse in terms of deconstruction (a philosophical theory of textual criticism).
3. (transitive) To analyse (generally).
4. (transitive) To critique (generally).
5. (transitive, chiefly US sports) To destroy.
   • 2014, Ian Levy, 2014 Jun 16, The Spurs’ Deconstruction of the Heat Is Now Complete

Usage notes

Narrowly used as a specific kind of literary analysis and criticism; broadly used as a fancy term to mean analysis, criticism, destruction, etc.

Derived terms

• deconstructable
• deconstructive
• deconstructively

Related terms

• deconstruction

Translations

Anagrams

• constructed