deconstruct
UK: ˌdiːkənˈstrʌkt | US: ˌdiːkənˈstrʌkt
vt. to break down into parts or analyze critically, especially to expose hidden assumptions or contradictions
vt. (in philosophy/literature) to apply deconstruction, a method of textual analysis questioning fixed meanings
Coined in the 1970s from French déconstruire (Jacques Derrida’s term), blending Latin de- (undoing) and construct (to assemble). The word embodies a paradox: dismantling (de-) what was once systematically built (con-struct). Its evolution mirrors postmodern critiques of fixed meanings in texts and systems.
The professor asked us to deconstruct the poem’s underlying biases.
Architects often deconstruct traditional forms to create avant-garde designs.
Critics deconstruct political speeches to reveal hidden agendas.
The film deconstructs gender stereotypes through its narrative.
To understand the theory, you must first deconstruct its foundational assumptions.