deconstruction
noun
Did you know?
Deconstruction doesn't actually mean "demolition;" instead it means "breaking down" or analyzing something (especially the words in a work of fiction or nonfiction) to discover its true significance, which is supposedly almost never exactly what the author intended. A feminist may deconstruct an old novel to show how even an innocent-seeming story somehow depends on the oppression of women. A new western may deconstruct the myths of the old West and show lawmen as vicious and criminals as flawed but decent. Table manners, The Sound of Music, and cosmetics ads have all been the subjects of deconstructionist analysis. Of course, not everyone agrees with deconstructionist interpretations, and some people reject the whole idea of deconstruction, but most of us have run into it by now even if we didn't realize it.
Synonyms
Examples of deconstruction in a Sentence
Mark Hughes, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
Hailing from the Company Flow school of post-apocalyptic rap deconstruction, the New Yorkers smash together surrealism and polemic in songs whose harmonious soul samples belie an inescapable sense of dread.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 13 Sep. 2024
While ease and simplicity remains at the core of the brand, Li experiments with proportion, deconstruction, and couture-leaning silhouettes.
—Madeline Fass, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2024
Decidedly not for everyone, this sitcom deconstruction quickly gained a reputation for its gonzo shock value and outright mocking of Christianity.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for deconstruction 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deconstruction.' 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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“Deconstruction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deconstruction. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
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