Dissembled vs. Disassembled

Dissembled vs. Disassembled Dissembled vs. Disassembled Dissembled vs. Disassembled By Maeve Maddox A reader offers this interesting use of dissembled: On CNN a state department spokesperson just referred to our soldiers having dissembled some weapons in the hands of Iraqis. If what the soldiers did to the weapons was take them apart, then the word the spokesperson wanted was disassembled. If the soldiers were disguising the weapons in some way, then dissembled might work. To dissemble is to conceal the truth of a situation. Instead of lying outright, a person dissembles by putting a false appearance on things. To disassemble is to take apart. A large piece of furniture may have to be disassembled before it can be moved. The misuse of dissembled for disassembled by the State Department spokesperson is not an isolated example. Similar misuse may be found on websites offering advice and professional services. For example, a site offering paid educational services shows the segment of a teaching unit that lists ways to request help from foreign nations: Be able to request the help from foreign nations to  dissemble  the  weapons  of mass destruction. A site for a company that takes apart and removes play sets that are no longer wanted offers this information: If the play set is in good condition, [our company] will dissemble it and donate it to someone who can use it or hand it over to a donation organization which will find a person who can use it and not let it go to waste. A site offering instructions for taking a television set apart gives this warning: Safety goggles are very important. The CRT may implode while you are busy dissembling the TV or monitor. The government IRS site begins instructions for some kind of kit used in tax preparation this way: Review the sample in the following manner: 1. Dissemble the entire family pack of applications. Here are examples of the correct use of dissemble: McCain/Lieberman dissemble on AQ in Iraq Poole was as gracious as ever, but I could tell  he was dissembling. I wanted to tell him that  he was dissembling, that  dissembling  was ultimately dishonest. â€Å"I think he was dissembling to put it charitably,† said Cooper. â€Å"To imply that he didn’t know [] or that he heard it in some rumor out in the hallways, is nonsense.† Other ways to say disassemble: dismantle take apart take to pieces deconstruct break up strip down Other ways to say dissemble: dissimulate pretend feign act masquerade sham bluff posture hide one’s feelings put on a false front Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Synonyms for â€Å"Angry†8 Proofreading Tips And TechniquesWhat Is the Meaning of "Hack?"