1
as in decomposes
to go through decomposition
fallen leaves slowly disintegrate over the course of the winter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grinds
to reduce to fine particles
modern air pollution is gradually disintegrating the ancient temple's irreplaceable friezes
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in disrupts
to cause to separate into pieces usually suddenly or forcibly
a tornado disintegrated the building in a matter of seconds
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Recent Examples of disintegrates
While the missile could, in theory, bypass missile defenses, each test risks radioactive fallout if the reactor disintegrates during flight or on impact.
—
Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Ethan Hawke stars as Lorenz Hart of legendary songsmiths Rodgers & Hart as the prolific partnership disintegrates to his great dismay.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 17 Oct. 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
Recruits typically come from deprived areas, and as Russia’s economy disintegrates in slow motion, the bonanza offered by the army looks increasingly appealing.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
What about uploading your brain to the cloud as your body disintegrates and becomes irrelevant?
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2025
Ethan Hawke stars as Lorenz Hart of legendary songsmiths Rodgers & Hart as the prolific partnership disintegrates to his great dismay.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 17 Oct. 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
Recruits typically come from deprived areas, and as Russia’s economy disintegrates in slow motion, the bonanza offered by the army looks increasingly appealing.
—David Hambling, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
What about uploading your brain to the cloud as your body disintegrates and becomes irrelevant?
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrates
Verb
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Return nutrients back to the soil Fallen leaves and other plant debris act as a natural mulch, which slowly decomposes over the winter.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Oct. 2025
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When leaves fall to the ground, the carbon stays in these leaves, breaks down, and decomposes and releases nutrients back into the soil that plants can take in.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At bottom, that’s the thing that grinds my gears.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
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The Luxe Café automatically grinds beans to the appropriate size and volume for your drink, and has a hands-free frothing system for creating hot and cold foam.—
Mark Marino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Cutting down trees disrupts the cycle, reducing rainfall and leading to drought.—
NPR,
NPR,
24 Oct. 2025
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Sleep deprivation also disrupts mood regulation, often leading to anxiety, irritability or depression.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The most common isotope, plutonium-239, is produced when the most common isotope of uranium, uranium-238, absorbs a neutron and then quickly decays to plutonium.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Oct. 2025
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The heartwood in the tree’s center decays first and makes for easy excavating.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the end, Morgan breaks it off at their engagement party.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
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The schedule breaks favorably going forward.—
Dana O'Neil,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If Britain continues down the path of criminalizing thought and prayer, the alliance risks being reduced to polite diplomacy while its moral core rots away.—
Lois McLatchie Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When their cores run out of fuel, gravity crushes them inward, triggering supernovae that leave behind a neutron star or black hole.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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However, Dort’s fate is sealed after the chandelier crashes down and crushes him to death.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrates. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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