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
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
In its most recent demonstration May 27, Starship spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball before achieving some of its most important objectives.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Laura’s house is a messy, colorful disaster, reflecting a personality that was clearly once charmingly ditzy and has disintegrated into instability.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Remaining parts of the ship which do not disintegrate from the heat of reentry are expected to land in the Indian Ocean, according to the company.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Both hired franchise legends as their head coaches to fix disintegrating cultures, and both are banking on young quarterbacks (Justin Fields and Drake Maye) to get things back on track.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
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.
Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 3 June 2025
Laura’s house is a messy, colorful disaster, reflecting a personality that was clearly once charmingly ditzy and has disintegrated into instability.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Remaining parts of the ship which do not disintegrate from the heat of reentry are expected to land in the Indian Ocean, according to the company.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2025
Both hired franchise legends as their head coaches to fix disintegrating cultures, and both are banking on young quarterbacks (Justin Fields and Drake Maye) to get things back on track.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disintegrate. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share