disintegrate

verb

(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt How to pronounce disintegrate (audio)
Definition of disintegratenext
1
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition fallen leaves slowly disintegrate over the course of the winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grind
to reduce to fine particles modern air pollution is gradually disintegrating the ancient temple's irreplaceable friezes

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to disrupt
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly a tornado disintegrated the building in a matter of seconds

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of disintegrate Then, the entire Soviet Union disintegrated, with all 15 republics breaking away, but in a peaceful process that Gorbachev hoped would lead to the creation of new democracies across Europe and Asia. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 At least two pledges were hurt so badly that their muscles started to disintegrate. — Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 It was revealed that the NFL quarterback’s relationship with the family had disintegrated over the years. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 Comedy is a delicate object; a funny play on words in one language might disintegrate in another. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrate
  1. decompose
  2. grind
  3. disrupt
  4. decay
  5. crush
  6. break
  7. rot
  8. pound
Verb
  • The study hypothesized that the sickle was added before the body fully decomposed since no joints were detached or displaced, as archaeologists would expect if a grave were to be disturbed after the body became a skeleton.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Agents plan and reason, decompose goals into steps, call external tools and iterate without being prompted at each turn.
    — Hemant Kashyap, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of decompose
Verb
  • The 4-cup mini chopper can chop or grind ingredients in seconds, making quick work of onions, garlic, herbs, and more.
    — Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The lineup has expanded beyond its viral multi-balm, too, with lightweight SPF sticks and even a mess-minimizing grinding cleansing balm.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of grind
Verb
  • The country is mired in a war with Iran with no graceful exit opportunities; a new round of tariffs threatens to further disrupt fragile global trade relations; and the domestic economy faces inflation combined with paltry growth.
    — Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Warships, mammoth bones and parts of ancient constructions all have emerged from the slumping waters of the Danube, the Rhine and other rivers in the scorching drought that has also disrupted trade, power and water supplies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of disrupt
Verb
  • Researchers can look for this signal by measuring the average vertical direction of the positrons produced when the muons decay.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The new owners took over the keys to a tired and decaying club in the spring and have since overseen a summer renovation that has stretched from assembling a new first-team squad to restoring hot water to Hillsborough.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of decay
Verb
  • On Thursday, however, good fortune found Ramos in the third inning, as the left fielder crushed an RBI double off the corner of Camden Yards’ right field wall.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Cindy said the icing process is time consuming, especially since the egg shells need to be crushed and dehydrated.
    — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of crush
Verb
  • Taylor splashed a wide-open triple from the top of the arc with 30 seconds to go to give tie the game, and then broke the visitors hearts to improve the Sky’s record to 14-22.
    — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • That assumption is starting to break, and most enterprises aren't measuring the break.
    — Himanshu Sinha, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of break
Verb
  • City leaders have accused Lineage, whose warehouse in Boyle Heights was destroyed by fire, of blowing past the city’s 45-day deadline for removing millions of pounds of rotting food from its property.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Too thick a mulch layer can cause these normally smaller plants to remain wet and rot.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of rot
Verb
  • Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days from another tropical system gaining strength over warm Pacific waters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Jay Lucarelli, 31, sat with his MacBook at the kitchen table in his mother’s home in Jackson Township, Ohio, pounding fastballs and energy drinks.
    — Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pound

Browse Nearby Words

disinhibition
disintegrate
disintegrated
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Cite this Entry

“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrate. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of disintegrate for Spanish Speakers

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