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
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.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 Jan. 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
The six-episode second season has followed how James and Ruby’s relationship disintegrates following their night of passion at the end of the first and the unexpected death of James’ mother.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
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.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 Jan. 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
The six-episode second season has followed how James and Ruby’s relationship disintegrates following their night of passion at the end of the first and the unexpected death of James’ mother.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Nov. 2025
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrates
Verb
-
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
-
The clever bit is when these fuels flow through the Draper engine and encounter a catalyst that decomposes the hydrogen peroxide into high-pressure oxygen and steam.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Then, just to flub any chance for enjoying some dumb fun with a skilled cast hamming it up, the sloppy story grinds the all-too-predictable, all-too-lame whodunit to a halt, as well.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
18 Mar. 2026
-
That has led to longer regular-season schedules followed by tougher tournament grinds, particularly for those without multi-round byes awarded to top seeds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, Wisconsin gas prices are currently about 60 cents higher than the same time last year as the war with Iran disrupts the global oil supply.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
What to Skip Alcohol feels relaxing but disrupts deep sleep and melatonin production.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Irons pounds the drums like Bam-Bam smashing on two garbage-can lids.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Macron said France is expending diplomatic capital to ensure a return to calm and to allow for the Lebanese armed forces to assert themselves as Israel pounds Hezbollah positions.—
Sylvie Corbet,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Antonelli breaks a record set by Lewis Hamilton in 2007, when the 22-year-old led the world championship in his rookie season.—
Sahil Kapur,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The first choice For every assistant coach looking to lead their own program, their first job often makes or breaks their careers.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The big differences between the labs probably reflect the fact that, as Italians like to say, the fish rots from the head.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Bacterial plant diseases include speck (a winter-surviving infection that attacks tomatoes), canker (which damages fruit trees including those producing apples and peaches), and blight (which rots melons, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, beans, and more).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mike Tyson plays a space-cadet version of himself, but the show transcends the one-note premise with its smart deployment of sharp joke writing, stellar voice actors (including Norm Macdonald, who crushes as a pigeon with a drinking problem), and a heavy dose of metafiction.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Because these drugs are so precious, new antibiotics are deliberately held in reserve to slow the emergence of resistance, a practice known as stewardship that benefits future patients but crushes commercial prospects.—
Henry Skinner,
STAT,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrates. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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