1
as in to decompose
to go through decomposition
fallen leaves slowly disintegrate over the course of the winter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Wooden artifacts or structures are generally rare finds for archaeologists because the material disintegrates quickly unless preserved in a low-oxygen environment, such as mud or water.
—
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
And, just as quickly, they were derided for their tendency to disintegrate into a mushy mess.
—Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Mohammadi works with materials that disintegrate, for instance halva, soap, letting their ephemerality echo the fragility of memory.
—Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Toward the end of the movie, Bob’s house of shame disintegrates.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 9 May 2025
And, just as quickly, they were derided for their tendency to disintegrate into a mushy mess.
—Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Mohammadi works with materials that disintegrate, for instance halva, soap, letting their ephemerality echo the fragility of memory.
—Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Toward the end of the movie, Bob’s house of shame disintegrates.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrate
Verb
-
Molasses is food for soil microbes—tiny living organisms like bacteria, fungi, and protozoa—that decompose organic matter, improve soil structure, and make nutrients available to plants, Fox says.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2025
-
The microbes perform vital functions like decomposing organic matter, improving water-holding capacity, cycling nutrients, and suppressing pathogens to improve plant resilience and overall soil health.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
The nation’s court system has been ground zero for pushback to President Donald Trump’s sweeping conservative agenda, with about 200 lawsuits filed challenging policies on everything from immigration to education to mass layoffs of federal workers.—
Lindsay Whitehurst,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
-
While the Bruins took care of some key business in the hiring of new head coach Marco Sturm, the team’s scouting and management staffs have been been grinding through some planning for the future that is just as vital as the next coach.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
The earthquake disrupted the World Series and damaged the Bay Bridge, Oakland’s Cypress Freeway, and swaths of San Francisco.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
-
Why disrupt a good thing by adding more and presumably inferior teams to the mix?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
However, when viruses were exposed to sunlight, many of them did not survive as long, decaying in under 24 hours.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The result was not only environmental catastrophe but license for unchecked consumption of cheap plastic goods that can take a few minutes to use but hundreds of years to decay.—
Scott W. Stern,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The pressure in each case was almost immediately crushing.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
-
Venice is a bucket list destination for many, but as the city buckles under the crushing weight of overtourism, savvy travelers are beginning to look for alternatives.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2025
Verb
-
But the Marlins roared back in the fifth and seemed to break the game open with a six-run outburst that ended Taj Bradley’s afternoon and also roughed up reliever Mason Montgomery.—
Compiled From Wire Reports,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
-
Revamping the system could be especially beneficial for small brands, but this would break longstanding business practices and is resisted by existing players in the industry.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
Don’t constantly flood the new grass as this can lead to rot problems especially in shady spots.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 June 2025
-
Since then, the infestation has worsened, the complaint says, with students at times finding decomposing and rotting mice under the sinks.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
His answers often incite him to pound his fist on the meeting table, interspersed with loud exclamations.—
Thor Svaboe,
Robb Report,
13 June 2025
-
His approach emphasizes collaboration with industry to create a framework where the rules are clearly known as the primary regulatory tool rather than aggressive enforcement based on applying existing laws, which many industry insiders described as pounding a square peg into a round hole.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share