as in decaying
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in decomposing
to go through decomposition
fallen leaves slowly disintegrate over the course of the winter
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grinding
to reduce to fine particles
modern air pollution is gradually disintegrating the ancient temple's irreplaceable friezes
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in disrupting
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 disintegrating
Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
By removing microscopic defects and smoothing the surface, this coating ensures efficient energy flow while preventing the cell from disintegrating under intense heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
These signs indicate that the iceberg could be just days or weeks from disintegrating completely.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead of the usual disintegrating granola situation, Floura bars are more like fruit bars.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Nov. 2025
Dark Skies does an excellent job of using an alien threat as a metaphor for the pressures on the nuclear American family that lead to so many of them disintegrating.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
By the time it was all set up, the whole cold, disintegrating place was threaded with lights and lines, flickering everywhere, black and red, the sheer quantity somehow terrifying and embracing at once.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
This difference sounds small, but preventing a few tenths of a degree of warming could keep polar ice caps from completely disintegrating, coral reefs from collapsing and other tipping points from triggering.
—Syris Valentine, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2025
As gifts go, this one comes much belated—and with a high risk of disintegrating even as it is being unwrapped.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
When Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s army was disintegrating in the face of a rapid advance by Syrian opposition forces under the command of Ahmad al-Sharaa, all the Russians were willing to do was launch a few symbolic airstrikes and help organize Assad’s getaway to a life in exile.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
By removing microscopic defects and smoothing the surface, this coating ensures efficient energy flow while preventing the cell from disintegrating under intense heat.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Jan. 2026
These signs indicate that the iceberg could be just days or weeks from disintegrating completely.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2026
Instead of the usual disintegrating granola situation, Floura bars are more like fruit bars.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Nov. 2025
Dark Skies does an excellent job of using an alien threat as a metaphor for the pressures on the nuclear American family that lead to so many of them disintegrating.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
By the time it was all set up, the whole cold, disintegrating place was threaded with lights and lines, flickering everywhere, black and red, the sheer quantity somehow terrifying and embracing at once.
—Blair Braverman, Outside, 28 Oct. 2025
This difference sounds small, but preventing a few tenths of a degree of warming could keep polar ice caps from completely disintegrating, coral reefs from collapsing and other tipping points from triggering.
—Syris Valentine, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2025
As gifts go, this one comes much belated—and with a high risk of disintegrating even as it is being unwrapped.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrating
Verb
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In desert regions, natural mummification is common due to the dry conditions where fungi and bacteria can’t thrive on a decomposing corpse.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
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In town, the painter also notes the reek of decomposing bodies, of garbage, of blood streaming out of the butcher shop.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Most entrepreneurs are grinding themselves into the ground following advice that wasn't made for them.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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At times, the noise of grinding gears can obscure the soprano whoops and wails of the preschoolers.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In a panel conversation on Friday, Georgieva said that AI is already disrupting labor markets worldwide by shifting demand for skills employers seek, and might even boost earnings for some workers by improving productivity.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
23 Jan. 2026
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Kelly, alongside a mob of activists, allegedly stormed Cities Church over the weekend, disrupting a Sunday sermon based on allegations that one of the pastors, David Easterwood, is an ICE official.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The new coach of the Miami Dolphins played his college football at Siena, with home games before small crowds at what was a decaying minor-league baseball field in a suburb of Albany, New York.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
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China’s out-of-control module had been abandoned in a decaying orbit ever since it was cut loose from the Shenzhou-15 capsule returning three Chinese astronauts from their country’s space station in 2023.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Amid the disorder, the regime turned to a familiar playbook of crushing dissent.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
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Homeowners association fees for people living in condominiums or other multi-unit dwellings have been increasing year after year — doubling one year only to go up again the next — and the effect is crushing.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But if Rubio is serious about breaking China's grip on critical minerals, his summit should devote equal attention to building up the secondary market for recycled materials.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The result is a supremely creamy sauce that clings to the chicken and mushrooms without breaking.—
Hana Asbrink,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Hasbro adopted a plastic spud after new government regulations prevented certain toys from having pointed sharp edges, as well as complaints about children playing with rotting vegetables.—
Kimberlee Kruesi,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
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Listeria monocytogenes, more commonly known as listeria, is a disease-causing bacteria that can be found in soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation and animals, according to the USDA.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Archival footage illustrates, in pulse-pounding and nerve-rattling fashion, just how widespread calls for Rushdie’s murder were.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
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By Jason Mackey Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PALM BEACH GARDENS — The pop of a catcher’s mitt mixed with saws screeching and hammers pounding provides an appropriate soundtrack inside Paul Skenes’ offseason workout facility, a baseball-lover’s paradise and an encapsulation of his unique personality.—
Tribune News Service,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrating. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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