1
as in decomposes
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 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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of disintegrates
None are quite about the conflicting frames of reference and value that arise when an ancient cultural formation disintegrates and a successor has yet to take its place.
—
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The skin stretches out and disintegrates, posing a risk of limb amputation.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 May 2026
But shortly thereafter, its nucleus fragments and quickly disintegrates.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2026
The café disintegrates, white-peach mimosas lost forever.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
If the American state disintegrates, future postmortems are unlikely to focus much on measles, or on rotavirus vaccination rates.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
The debris — space rocks known as meteoroids — collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
—Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 2 Jan. 2026
The debris — small rocks known as meteoroids — collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 27 Dec. 2025
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The skin stretches out and disintegrates, posing a risk of limb amputation.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 17 May 2026
The debris – space rocks known as meteoroids – collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 7 May 2026
But shortly thereafter, its nucleus fragments and quickly disintegrates.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2026
The café disintegrates, white-peach mimosas lost forever.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
If the American state disintegrates, future postmortems are unlikely to focus much on measles, or on rotavirus vaccination rates.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
The debris — space rocks known as meteoroids — collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
—Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 2 Jan. 2026
The debris — small rocks known as meteoroids — collides with Earth's atmosphere at high speed and disintegrates, creating fiery and colorful streaks in the sky, according to NASA.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 27 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrates
Verb
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Organic material trapped in reservoirs accumulates and decomposes over time, releasing methane — a potent greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming, Fernández-Garrido told CNN.—
Radina Gigova,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
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Another process, thermogenic hydrogen formation, occurs in deep sedimentary basins when organic material decomposes under high temperatures, roughly 480 to 930 degrees Fahrenheit (250 to 500 degrees Celsius).—
Promise Longe,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Not necessarily that the basketball becomes easier, but each minute is so tense, both teams are so focused and each possession is so tight that the winner is often decided by which team — or player — can execute when the game grinds to a halt.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
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To craft the burger, the team coarsely grinds — twice — the leftover pieces of meat and fat trimmed from either a brisket or shoulder clod, then forms 8-ounce-thick patties, which are rolled in a housemade all-purpose rub and 16-mesh pepper and smoked for two hours.—
Sam Flemming,
AJC.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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El Niño, however, is associated with higher vertical wind shear in the Atlantic, which disrupts this process.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
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The more established the team’s reputation, the less anyone wants to be the one who disrupts it.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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In theory, beryllium-8 normally decays into two helium-4 nuclei.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Mar. 2026
-
This state then decays through a two-step cascade, releasing two photons in rapid succession.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rain pounds down in a stinging curtain.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Her silver nail polish—reminiscent of the shade worn by Lou Reed (from one New York legend to another) in footage shown during Todd Haynes’s documentary The Velvet Underground—sparkles as Gaga pounds the keys of her piano throughout the film.—
Maxwell Adler,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Standards will emerge, including some that machines can issue to other machines, with a human institution somewhere in the chain that is willing to be legally liable when the chain breaks.—
Alex Lazarow,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Gatsby says customers are covered if the robot damages anything during a cleaning, with the company promising to replace items the robot breaks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Training plants to stay off the ground instead of trailing prevents many common fungal diseases, fruit spots, and rots.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 May 2026
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When the seaweed rots, hydrogen sulfide gas is emitted, which smells like rotten eggs.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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An Ice Shaver crushes ice into a snow-like texture for slushies, snow cones or cold drinks.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
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Lady Gaga, crushes, Tom Cruise, and movie theaters — the through-line for this week is obsession.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrates. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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