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
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Recent Examples of disintegrate
The more unfortunate incident happened with the Soviet Kosmos 954 reactor, which, after operating in orbit, experienced uncontrolled reentry and disintegrated over a 600-kilometer swath of Canadian territory.
—
Emily Waltz, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Aug. 2025
The six-episode series, produced by Croatia’s Antitalent, is set in 1989 at the Croatian seaside, where a family is shattered when their daughter disappears, unleashing dark secrets that disintegrate the community over two decades until the return of the former investigator unveils the truth.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Generally, artifacts made from leather, wood or fabric are rare finds for archaeologists because these organic materials disintegrate quickly in most environments.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Emily Waltz, IEEE Spectrum, 22 Aug. 2025
The six-episode series, produced by Croatia’s Antitalent, is set in 1989 at the Croatian seaside, where a family is shattered when their daughter disappears, unleashing dark secrets that disintegrate the community over two decades until the return of the former investigator unveils the truth.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Generally, artifacts made from leather, wood or fabric are rare finds for archaeologists because these organic materials disintegrate quickly in most environments.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025
The debris collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrate
Verb
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The farm worked with Ducks Unlimited for a different conservation easement applicable to its rice fields, and was an early adopter of post-harvest flood practices to decompose rice straw left over from harvest.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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While strontium aluminate can readily decompose in plants, posing harm to plant tissue, Liu said, the scientists developed a chemical coating for the material that acts as a protective barrier.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Others like Geno Smith had to grind their way back to starting roles after being written off.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
4 Sep. 2025
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Instead, the army became bogged down in a grinding war of attrition, and the West was stunned by Moscow’s poor battlefield performance.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Months after Milwaukee officials began talking about the issue, street takeovers continue to disrupt the city.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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That’s because the same technology that may be disrupting traditional jobs could accelerate entirely new industries from space tourism to planet colonization.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Researchers from each, plus the United States, were attempting to decipher the challenges presented by opposing either a regime or a decaying democracy.—
Ron Scherf,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
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Their decaying carcasses led to the rapid deterioration of water quality and an explosion of harmful bacteria, researchers said.—
Lauren Liebhaber
September 5,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Several parts of the metal vehicle were crushed.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
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The disaster is remembered not just for its winds, but for the crushing surge of water that devastated rural Louisiana parishes and tore through the heart of New Orleans.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The final construction plan was approved by the state, county, and the city of South Miami in July 2025 and the church broke ground on August 4.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
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Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kotevska turns her camera on agonizing scenes of Nikola and his family all but abandoning their potatoes, along with watermelon and other crops, and leaving them to rot because selling them makes no sense.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
29 Aug. 2025
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In the daytime, the pair encountered the planarians, often called hammerhead worms, hiding under rotting logs or rocks.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The rain pounded so hard Friday afternoon that Aventura police closed a portion of Biscayne Boulevard from 191st Street to 29th Avenue, near Aventura Mall, due to road flooding.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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TikTok videos often feature variations where pranksters pound on or kick people’s front doors.—
Holly Yan,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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