disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate
(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt 
disintegrated; disintegrating; disintegrates
1
: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles
water disintegrates the limestone
2
: to destroy the unity or integrity (see integrity sense 3) of
The lies disintegrated their marriage.
1
: to break or separate into constituent elements or parts
The iron hinges were disintegrating into dust.
2
: to lose unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts
The relationship started to disintegrate.
3
: to undergo a change in composition (see composition sense 2)
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
Synonyms
Examples of disintegrate in a Sentence
The paper will disintegrate if it gets wet.
The laser can disintegrate most kinds of rock.
Recent Examples on the Web
As the vehicle approached its destination, crossing over New Mexico into Texas, the orbiter began to disintegrate — visibly shedding chunks of debris.
—
Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The statues of Mary and Joseph bearing silent witness to this back-and-forth feels like a scathing commentary on America’s disintegrating values.
—EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
For the new Shuttle series, CNN gained access to NASA’s archives, as well as findings from the government’s official investigation of the tragedy, in which seven astronauts were killed as Columbia disintegrated while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
As the old order disintegrates and a new one struggles to be born, the advantage lies with those who understand how to navigate skyrocketing complexity, hyper-commoditization, and essentially zero bandwidth for insightful, original creative thinking.
—John G. Singer, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
Then, 49 minutes after launch, communications with Starship ended, and SpaceX later said the vehicle had not survived the re-entry, presumably disintegrating and falling into the ocean.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Should the Thwaites Glacier disintegrate, global sea level would rise by about two feet.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024
Most of the homes are made out of natural elements that can then disintegrate back into the forest.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2024
While the mission on that fateful day in 1986 was supposed to be like any other routine mission, unusually cold temperatures caused the external tank to explode seconds into takeoff — causing the orbiter to disintegrate and the spacecraft to explode, according to NASA.
—Brittany Kasko, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2024
Jackie Wattles, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The statues of Mary and Joseph bearing silent witness to this back-and-forth feels like a scathing commentary on America’s disintegrating values.
—EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
For the new Shuttle series, CNN gained access to NASA’s archives, as well as findings from the government’s official investigation of the tragedy, in which seven astronauts were killed as Columbia disintegrated while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
As the old order disintegrates and a new one struggles to be born, the advantage lies with those who understand how to navigate skyrocketing complexity, hyper-commoditization, and essentially zero bandwidth for insightful, original creative thinking.
—John G. Singer, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
Then, 49 minutes after launch, communications with Starship ended, and SpaceX later said the vehicle had not survived the re-entry, presumably disintegrating and falling into the ocean.
—Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Should the Thwaites Glacier disintegrate, global sea level would rise by about two feet.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024
Most of the homes are made out of natural elements that can then disintegrate back into the forest.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2024
While the mission on that fateful day in 1986 was supposed to be like any other routine mission, unusually cold temperatures caused the external tank to explode seconds into takeoff — causing the orbiter to disintegrate and the spacecraft to explode, according to NASA.
—Brittany Kasko, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disintegrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1796, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near disintegrate
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disintegrate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate
(ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt
1
: to break or decompose into the elements, parts, or small particles making up something
2
: to go through a change in composition
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
Medical Definition
disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate
(ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt
disintegrated; disintegrating
: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles
1
: to break or separate into constituent elements or parts
2
: to undergo a change in composition
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
More from Merriam-Webster on disintegrate
Nglish: Translation of disintegrate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of disintegrate for Arabic Speakers
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