disintegrate

verb

dis·​in·​te·​grate (ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt How to pronounce disintegrate (audio)
disintegrated; disintegrating; disintegrates

transitive verb

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.

intransitive verb

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
disintegrative adjective
disintegrator noun

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
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.
Before flight 10, Starship's most recent demonstration came on May 27, when the spacecraft spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025 The situation quickly disintegrated as Joseph Gerber, 45, who had an outstanding felony warrant, fired first and wounded Mancera. Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025 As the Snowball catastrophically collapsed once more, superhot oceans of meltwater, just offshore from rapidly disintegrating mile-thick ice sheets, drove some of the wildest weather in Earth history. Peter Brannen august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025 But companies that invest in procurement AI now will gain a competitive edge as supply chains continue to disintegrate and patterns of trade become increasingly complex. Gaurav Tewari, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disintegrate

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disintegrate was in 1796

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disintegrate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

disintegrate

verb
dis·​in·​te·​grate (ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt How to pronounce disintegrate (audio)
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
disintegrator noun

Medical Definition

disintegrate

verb
dis·​in·​te·​grate (ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt How to pronounce disintegrate (audio)
disintegrated; disintegrating

transitive verb

: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles

intransitive verb

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
disintegration noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disintegrate

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!