disintegrate

verb dis·in·te·grate \ (ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt \

Updated on: 17 May 2018

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 3) of

The lies disintegrated their marriage.

intransitive verb

1 : to break or separate into constituent elements or parts

The iron hinges were disintegrateing 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 2)

an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity

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disintegration

play \(ˌ)dis-ˌin-tə-ˈgrā-shən\ noun

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disintegrative

play \(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrā-tiv\ adjective

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disintegrator

play \-ˌgrā-tər\ noun

See disintegrate defined for English-language learners

See disintegrate defined for kids

Examples of disintegrate in a Sentence

The paper will disintegrate if it gets wet.
The laser can disintegrate most kinds of rock.

Recent Examples of disintegrate from the Web

The party’s respect for the rule of law is disintegrating before our eyes, and in its place is forming a Trumpian conviction that the law must be an instrument of reactionary power.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Giuliani’s FBI ‘Stormtroopers’ Smear Is the Key to Trump’s Authoritarian Mind-set," 3 May 2018
Decades of living peacefully together – built on a sense of home and sanctuary, amid a tradition here of mutual reliance and neighborly care – was disintegrating before his eyes.

— scott peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Baghdad, a sense of home resurfaces a decade after ethnic cleansing," 2 May 2018
His macabre enterprise, so dependent on the landowners’ self-interested incuriosity, disintegrates under Gogol’s exuberant scrutiny.

— julian lucas, New York Times, "The Russian Comic Writer Who’s an Antidote to Mad Times," 2 May 2018
As Kelly continues to reportedly denigrate Trump’s lack of knowledge on policy and government to lawmakers, the relationship between them only disintegrates further.

— caitlin wolper, Teen Vogue, "Chief of Staff John Kelly Reportedly Called President Trump an Idiot, Said Women Are More Emotional," 1 May 2018
Half of the superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe disintegrate along with billions of others.

— eliana dockterman, Time, "How the Avengers: Infinity War Post-Credit Scene Sets Up the Next Big Marvel Movie," 27 Apr. 2018
The society is disintegrating, and the country becomes an easy prey for any outside force.

— fernando ramirez, Houston Chronicle, "Oklahoma teacher tried to marry her former, underage student before being arrested," 26 Apr. 2018
There’s one more step: When alder, hickory, apple or any other hardwood bursts into flame, its carbohydrate skeletons disintegrate into fragments that often smell like warm vanilla and cloves.

— ali bouzari, San Francisco Chronicle, "Housemade: The silent science behind three signature dishes at Duna," 12 Apr. 2018
The monsters literally disintegrate beneath you once their heads leave their shoulders.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Extinction review: Shadow of the colossal disappointment," 10 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disintegrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.