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
For months, the drama happening elsewhere in the country had imposed itself on set: First the rapid-fire disintegration of the ruling regime in December; then, in March, a spate of sectarian massacres in villages just a few dozen miles away from Kasheesh.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
And that disintegration shows up in your workforce — in the anxiety of Gen Z, the anger of older workers, the fear managers feel about saying the wrong thing, and the desire among many employees for their company to stand for something.
—Curt Steinhorst, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
For instance, the North China Craton underwent significant disintegration for millions of years and lost its deepest root layers.
—New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2025
As Russia tried to find its way forward in the wake of the Soviet Union’s disintegration, Washington’s pursuit of security and democratization efforts clashed with Moscow’s ambitions to preserve its power and influence.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2025
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Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2025
And that disintegration shows up in your workforce — in the anxiety of Gen Z, the anger of older workers, the fear managers feel about saying the wrong thing, and the desire among many employees for their company to stand for something.
—Curt Steinhorst, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
For instance, the North China Craton underwent significant disintegration for millions of years and lost its deepest root layers.
—New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2025
As Russia tried to find its way forward in the wake of the Soviet Union’s disintegration, Washington’s pursuit of security and democratization efforts clashed with Moscow’s ambitions to preserve its power and influence.
—Alexander Vindman, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 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 18 May. 2025.
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