dilaniare
to tear apart
verb dee-lah-NYAH-reh Rare
Origin: From Latin dilaniari, to tear to pieces.
Also means
to rend
Usage Note
Dilaniare conveys violent tearing — of flesh by an animal, or figuratively of a community torn apart by conflict: una famiglia dilaniata dal dolore. It takes avere as its auxiliary. Strong or literary register.
Examples
"Il leone ha dilaniato la preda."
Natural Translation
The lion tore the prey apart.

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