Synonyms

disintegrate

American

[dis-in-tuh-greyt] / dɪsˈɪn təˌgreɪt /

verb (used without object)

disintegrated, disintegrating

to separate into parts or lose intactness or solidness; break up; deteriorate.

The old book is gradually disintegrating with age.
Physics.
1. to decay.
2. (of a nucleus) to change into one or more different nuclei after being bombarded by high-energy particles, as alpha particles or gamma rays.

verb (used with object)

disintegrated, disintegrating

to reduce to particles, fragments, or parts; break up or destroy the cohesion of.

Rocks are disintegrated by frost and rain.

disintegrate British

/ dɪsˈɪntɪˌɡreɪt /

verb

to break or be broken into fragments or constituent parts; shatter
to lose or cause to lose cohesion or unity
(intr) to lose judgment or control; deteriorate
physics
1. to induce or undergo nuclear fission, as by bombardment with fast particles
2. another word for decay

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See decay.

Other Word Forms

disintegrable adjective
disintegration noun
disintegrative adjective
disintegrator noun
disintegratory adjective
nondisintegrating adjective

Etymology

Origin of disintegrate

First recorded in 1790–1800; dis- ¹ + integrate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Among other drawbacks, she notes, “films have disintegrated because preservationists can’t digitize them.”

From Los Angeles Times

SpaceX confirmed with the agency that Starship was disintegrating 15 minutes after that, according to the documents.

From The Wall Street Journal

Structures made out of bed sheets and clothing—assembled by displaced Palestinians who haven’t received a proper tent—are disintegrating in the heavy rains and winds, leaving many out in the cold.

From The Wall Street Journal

The story of her disintegrating marriage to fellow writer Murray Bail makes for a slow burn of suspense and readerly alarm.

From The Wall Street Journal

Today's outcome is a sorry end to a nightmarish year for Salford fans, who have watched their club disintegrate to this point over the past 12 months.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023