disintegration
noun
dis·in·te·gra·tion
(ˌ)dis-ˌin-tə-ˈgrā-shən 
plural disintegrations
: the act or process of disintegrating or the state of being disintegrated: such as
a
: the breaking down of something into small particles or into its constituent elements
Some glaciers have been destabilized by warmer ocean waters. Scientists fear that parts of the ice sheet may be in the early stages of an unstoppable disintegration.—
Justin Gillis
Justin GillisBut miraculously, officials say, the countless bits of debris from the disintegration of the space shuttle Columbia injured not a soul on the ground.—The New York Times
The New York Times
b
: loss of unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts
Declining sales led to the company's gradual disintegration and ultimate demise.
What's more, the fear of many conservatives that we might be at the mercy of unstoppable forces of social disintegration turned out to be wrong.—William Kristol
William KristolOver the long run, however, there is no substitute for addressing the root causes of crime—bad education and lack of job opportunities and the disintegration of families.—Daniel D. Polsby
Daniel D. PolsbyExamples of disintegration in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In most cases, the disintegration of communication occurs gradually, as intimacy and effort slip away.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The difference between CliffsNotes and today’s computerized counterparts encapsulates the disintegration of knowledge, particularly of reading comprehension.
—Joelle Renstrom
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
On and on the section goes, a whirling fifty-page stretch of disorientation and disintegration.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Norway's military says Moscow's submarine activity was high during the Cold War but dipped in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegration
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Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The difference between CliffsNotes and today’s computerized counterparts encapsulates the disintegration of knowledge, particularly of reading comprehension.
—Joelle Renstrom
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
On and on the section goes, a whirling fifty-page stretch of disorientation and disintegration.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Norway's military says Moscow's submarine activity was high during the Cold War but dipped in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegration
Cite this Entry
“Disintegration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disintegration. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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