1
as in to decompose
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 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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disintegrate
The meteor was moving southwest at 30,000 miles per hour and traveled 117 miles through the upper atmosphere before disintegrating 27 miles above the town of Galloway north of Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to NASA.
—
Kate Perez, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Others, however, remain faint or even fragment or disintegrate entirely.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
The car completely disintegrated, damaging several other vehicles.
—Jessica Riley, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
But shortly thereafter, its nucleus fragments and quickly disintegrates.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Kate Perez, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
Others, however, remain faint or even fragment or disintegrate entirely.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2026
The car completely disintegrated, damaging several other vehicles.
—Jessica Riley, CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
But shortly thereafter, its nucleus fragments and quickly disintegrates.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disintegrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disintegrate
Verb
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The body was decomposed and dismembered.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Her arms and legs had been cut off, and her body was significantly decomposed, according to the report.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The production, directed with the brooding fluidity that is David Cromer’s calling card, is most alive in the evolving dynamic between Nick and Jacki, whose romance happens by degrees then all at once before reality intervenes and the criminal justice bureaucracy grinds to a halt.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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And, over the weekend, that community showed up in the simplest way possible — side by side in a gym, grinding through a workout, and remembering the ones who didn’t make it home.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The United Nations Development Programme reports that higher energy prices, disrupted food systems, and economic slowdowns triggered by the war could push up to thirty-two million people globally into poverty.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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Ahead of them, Joe Willock (white) was in position to defend a short corner and Jacob Murphy (orange) played a hybrid role to help disrupt Gabriel, before protecting the area near the penalty spot and also keeping an eye out for late runners.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There was nothing quaint about the making of Apocalypse Now, for which Tavoularis created a nightmarish jungle kingdom with a decaying temple — inspired by the ancient Angkor Wat in Cambodia — as its centerpiece.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
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By removing the decaying cells created by the high-salt diet, the drug allowed the remaining healthy tissue to maintain its elasticity and respond correctly to blood flow demands.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If the underdog Hawks had any hopes of evening this first-round series and forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks crushed those dreams in a matter of minutes.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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The Sabres played to their strengths early, using their speed and pressure to force turnovers — three of which led to first-period goals, which absolutely crushed Boston early.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The film broke records for the best box office performance for a biopic in North America in its opening weekend and made $314 million worldwide in its first weekend in theaters.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
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For travelers looking to break a sweat, there is a gym with two Pelotons, a handful of treadmills, and weights—plus a small outdoor space for yoga.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Do not pile mulch against the tree’s trunk; that can cause the bark to rot.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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Some family members of those whose bodies were left to rot had urged Judge Eric Bentley to impose the maximum sentence.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The updraft knifed through the building, whose inhabitants were already suffering without heat or power for much of the winter as Russia pounded Ukraine’s energy system.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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There’s a sense of surrender in the way this tune eroticizes total passivity, giving up control, just letting your feelings pound you to a bloody pulp.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disintegrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disintegrate. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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