come apart

idiom

variants or come apart at the seams
: to break into parts or pieces : fail or be in very bad condition
This table is coming apart.
an old house that is coming apart at the seams
often used figuratively
a coalition that is coming apart
Their marriage is coming apart at the seams.

Examples of come apart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Richard’s vengeful ambition and false promises litter the outdoor stage in Sanborn County Park, ultimately reminding everyone that the evils pursued by those in power ultimately come apart at the seams, only the remnants of thick blood left behind. David John Chávez, Mercury News, 30 July 2025 Both women fall for the other’s boyfriend, and while the two couples get back together in the original, Fleming has both relationships come apart. Ronald Blum, Denver Post, 22 July 2025 Removable binding There are some binding machines on the market that actually come apart, allowing one person to punch papers while the other person binds the booklets. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 25 June 2025 In December, 1988, as the Soviet Union was beginning to come apart, Senator Bill Bradley, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, convened a closed-door hearing with several of the C.I.A.’s top Soviet experts. Keith Gessen, New Yorker, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for come apart

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Come apart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come%20apart. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!