disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate
(ˌ)dis-ˈin-tə-ˌgrāt 
disintegrated; disintegrating; disintegrates
1
: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles
water disintegrates the limestone
2
: to destroy the unity or integrity (see integrity sense 3) of
The lies disintegrated their marriage.
1
: to break or separate into constituent elements or parts
The iron hinges were disintegrating into dust.
2
: to lose unity or integrity by or as if by breaking into parts
The relationship started to disintegrate.
3
: to undergo a change in composition (see composition sense 2)
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
Examples of disintegrate in a Sentence
The paper will disintegrate if it gets wet.
The laser can disintegrate most kinds of rock.
Recent Examples on the Web
Join 13 others in the comments View Comments Though defunct objects in space routinely fall out of orbit, most pieces of debris disintegrate entirely during the reentry process.
—
Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
The altitudes at which satellites disintegrate are too high for meteorological balloons to reach but too low for satellites to sample.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 5 May 2025
The projections that are occasionally thrown on the stern set to show its walls shaking or disintegrating look silly.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The next steps Not long after, the Bears retreated from pick No. 109, trading down 23 spots and again changing their draft wallet, almost certainly because their Saturday morning best-case scenario for the backfield had disintegrated.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
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Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
The altitudes at which satellites disintegrate are too high for meteorological balloons to reach but too low for satellites to sample.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 5 May 2025
The projections that are occasionally thrown on the stern set to show its walls shaking or disintegrating look silly.
—Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The next steps Not long after, the Bears retreated from pick No. 109, trading down 23 spots and again changing their draft wallet, almost certainly because their Saturday morning best-case scenario for the backfield had disintegrated.
—Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disintegrate. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate
(ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt
1
: to break or decompose into the elements, parts, or small particles making up something
2
: to go through a change in composition
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
Medical Definition
disintegrate
verb
dis·in·te·grate
(ˈ)dis-ˈint-ə-ˌgrāt
disintegrated; disintegrating
: to break or decompose into constituent elements, parts, or small particles
1
: to break or separate into constituent elements or parts
2
: to undergo a change in composition
an atomic nucleus that disintegrates because of radioactivity
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